A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter! There was some concern expressed in the reviews that this might be too heavy or depressing of a story based on the synopsis and I will say that there is definitely angst in this story (hence why I changed the genre from drama to angst) but there is absolutely no deaths and there is definitely going to be a Caskett ending. I will say that Chapter 4 and possibly 5 are going to be the angstiest chapters and will likely include mentions of depression (I haven't written Chapter 5 yet, so I don't know for sure on that though). Next chapter is when the meat of the story begins.

Kate woke to the animated chatter of her boyfriend echoing from the kitchen mixed with the sounds of sizzling bacon and pancakes taking form in a pan. From what she could hear through the bookcases, Rick was telling his daughter the menu of the Christmas dinner they were hosting the following day. While Kate still had her own apartment, after six months of being with Rick she spent most of her time at his loft and practically lived there. Their relationship moved much faster than any relationship she had ever had but she never felt like it was moving too fast.

Kate threw back the covers and grabbed a robe so she could head to the kitchen for breakfast. Rick spotted her the second she exited his office and his face lit brighter than the Christmas tree at the sight of her. Kate couldn't help but return the same lovesick grin.

"You two are so gross," Alexis said teasingly.

"Hey!" Rick exclaimed.

Alexis shrugged her shoulders with her hands in the air. "I can't imagine you'd have a different reaction if you were in my position."

Kate wrapped her arms around Rick's torso when she arrived in the kitchen and Rick flung his arm around her shoulder. "Oh, leave her alone, Rick. I seem to recall a similar response from you when Martha arrived home from a date at eight in the morning."

"That's different. Mother had been gone for three days and she came back wearing the same clothes she left in." Rick shuddered as though the memory caused him the greatest of emotional trauma.

"Speaking of your mother, is she going to be here for Christmas? It was still up in the air last I heard."

"I think she'll be making an appearance, but I can't guarantee how long that will be."

The slide of a key in the lock of the front door, alerted the trio of an impending visitor, as though mentions of her summoned her to return home.

"Hello my darlings!" Martha Rodgers exclaimed in her usual extravagant fashion, letting the feathered cuffs of her flamboyant coat soar in the air like they were trying to become avian again.

"Hello Mother, we were just speaking of you."

"All good things, I imagine."

"Of course not," Rick teased as he flipped the two pancakes he had cooking in a pan.

"Richard…"

"We were just wondering if you were going to be around for Christmas?" Kate jumped in before Rick could get another playful jab at his mother.

"I do believe so. It will be our first Christmas with you, my dear Katherine, so I surely can't miss that."

Kate smiled, knowing the woman, who she believed would become her future mother-in-law, welcomed her into their little family so easily.

The day was spent preparing for Christmas dinner which included several last-minute stops to the grocery store when Rick realized he had forgotten more than a few ingredients from his shopping trip earlier in the week. After dinner, Alexis went upstairs to her bedroom to read while Rick and Kate sat on the couch each enjoying a glass of wine. Kate cuddled into Rick's side while he threw an arm over her shoulder and she suggested they turn on the TV to watch something.

Rick placed his wine on a nearby table and shimmied in place as he tried to reach his hand into the pocket of his pants furthest from Kate. "I actually have a different idea. I know this is probably too soon and a little crazy, but…" Rick revealed his hand holding a small black velvet box. He popped it open to reveal a three-carat diamond ring. "I know it's only been six months, but I already know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, Kate, will you marry me?"

Because of the angle they were sitting on the couch, Rick didn't have a great view of Kate's reaction and she hadn't taken her eyes off the ring box since he removed it from his pocket. The longer they sat not speaking, the more nervous Rick got.

"It was too soon, wasn't it? I'm sorry. I'll just…"
"Yes," Kate finally said, meeting his gaze, a small tear forming in the corner of her eye.

"What?"

"Rick, yes. I will marry you. I want to marry you!"

Rick released the breath that he was holding like had been underwater for several minutes. "Oh God, Kate, I love you." With his hands visibly trembling, he plucked the ring from the box and slipped it on to Kate's left hand.

Kate leaned over to place her nearly forgotten wine glass on the coffee table in front of her and turned around to kiss her fiancée, only pulling back to say, "I love you, too."

Christmas came and went and then it was the new year and Rick and Kate were planning for a June wedding. The date came almost as quickly as their relationship became serious and it seemed appropriate for how they started living their lives since they first met. Rick predicted they'd have five kids before their fifth wedding anniversary and the idea of that didn't frighten Kate, although five kids was a few more than she would have preferred.

The day of their wedding was a balmy seventy degrees. Not even a year from the day they met, they were pledging their love and commitment in front of family and friends. A younger Kate would have scoffed at the idea of getting married so quickly, but everything she had with Rick felt like she was following a very clear and obvious path toward happiness.

Since she didn't believe in the typical superstitions around weddings, when she was briefly left alone in her dressing room, she sneaked out to find Rick. She lightly knocked on his door knowing that because it was mostly quiet on the other side that he was likely alone.

"Come in!" he called out.

Kate opened the door, trying to make as little noise as possible because although she didn't believe in the silly superstitions, it still felt like she would be in trouble if she was caught. She peeked around the door and softly said, "Hey," as she entered the room.

"Kate!" Rick flung his hands over his eyes so he couldn't see her, but she grabbed and removed his hands, holding them as though they were about to say their vows right there. He still had his squeezed shut.

"I don't believe in all that stuff, Rick. You can look at me. Please look at me actually because I have something I need to tell you."

Rick opened his eyes like he was being tricked and Kate was testing whether he would actually go against tradition. He relaxed when he finally laid eyes on Kate's glowing face. She was smiling and looking at him with the love and devotion he only dreamed of seeing in the eyes of his ex-wife. Rick matched her expression and the pair spent a solid minute just grinning at each other.

"You look stunning, Kate."

"Thanks, you're not so bad yourself."

"I can't believe we are here. Getting married in half an hour. Starting our life together."

"I know. I actually needed to tell you something before we got married though."

Rick's face fell, but only briefly because Kate's expression never changed. He knew that if she was giving him bad news, it would be evident on her face.

"What is it?"

Kate took a gulp of air and said, "I'm pregnant."