A/N: I didn't intend on writing the second date, but here we are. Sorry it's a short one, but hopefully it will tie everyone over until I get to the next chapter.

Rick awoke bright and early because the anticipation of seeing Kate again prevented him from sleeping past 6 AM. He wasn't a runner, but he felt like he needed to run a few miles just to burn off his excess adrenaline. He had three hours before he could see Kate again and he was tempted to show up at her apartment very early, but he managed to control himself and decided to clean up the loft a little just to stay busy.

At the more acceptable time of 8:30 AM, Rick left his apartment even though he knew it would only take 15 minutes to get to her place assuming he didn't sprint. When her building came into view, a smile, radiant and wide enough to catch the eyes of passersby, spread across his face.

Kate had texted him the night before with instructions on how to get into the building, so soon enough he was on the 5th floor making his way to Apartment 520.

He barely knocked twice before Kate flung the door open with such flourish that her hair noticeably moved from the air current. "Hi!" she greeted and moved in quickly to kiss him. Neither was sure if the intent was a quick peck, but the result was not. The kiss deepened and only the sounds of exaggerated gagging coming from down the hall, had Kate pulling away.

Two pre-teen boys that Kate knew lived a few doors down from her were staring at them with disgusted grimaces. "So gross…" one of them muttered.

Kate's face flushed. "Sorry!" she rushed out before grabbing Rick by the arm, dragging him into her apartment and slamming the door behind them. She fell against the door and covered her face with her hands. "This is so embarrassing," she mumbled.

Rick attempted to hold back laughter, but failed and a loud guffaw escaped.

Kate removed her hands and tried to be angry at his reaction, but she too was fighting back a laugh, "this isn't funny, Rick." Her smile said otherwise. "We've probably traumatized those kids or something."

"It's a little funny," Rick said. He stood directly I front of her and placed his hands on her hips. "I'd actually say it was very," he moved closer, "very," and closer, "very," and with his lips over hers he whispered, "funny."

Kate threw her arms around his shoulders when his lips met hers and she let out a moan that would have certainly horrified the neighbor boys.

"God, you are good at that," Kate admitted.

"I can say the same for you. Foreshadowing for things to come?" Rick said, waggling his eyebrows.

"Mmm we'll see Writer Boy, but right now I was actually hoping to get some breakfast because I'm starving."

"Writer Boy?! Not even Writer Man?"

"You have to earn Writer Man. Maybe that's something we can work on later." Kate coyly smirked. "But first, breakfast."

The restaurant Kate chose was a small diner that was well known for their breakfasts. They were seated in a booth and seat opposite each other. They scanned the menu while occasionally looking past the laminated cardstock to gaze at the other before their companion caught them and they both returned to their menus with grins.

After placing their orders—Rick, a stack of pancakes with an omelet and Kate, eggs benedict—Rick asked, "So have you been here before?"

"Yeah, I come here every month with my dad. We've been doing it for years now, ever since he—" Kate paused, "—well ever since he got sober. Sorry, I don't usually talk about that with people, especially not a second date."

"I'm glad you shared that with me." Rick reached his left hand across the table and grabbed Kate's right. He rubbed small circles over her knuckles.

Kate looked down at their joined hands and back to Rick. "It's so strange. I barely know you, but somehow I feel—I'm not even sure if I can describe it, but I feel like I've known you forever. I guess in a way I have though."

"How do you mean?"

"Your books." Kate gave him a soft smile. "My mom loved your books. She always tried to get me to read them and I never wanted to give in—you know, just a teenager pretending she knew better than everyone—but when I was 17, I sat down and read In a Hail of Bullets in just an afternoon. I got over my pride and told my mom that I loved it and from then on we had our own little Beckett Book Club. When my mom was murdered a couple of years later, I clung to your books to feel close to her again and they helped me through some very dark moments in my life." Kate wiped a tear from the corner of her eye before it fell. "I know your words, so I feel like I've known you for a lot longer than a few weeks."

"Wow, I don't know what to say," Rick admitted and paused to find the words. "I could win a dozen Pulitzers and they wouldn't be a fraction as significant as knowing that my words helped you. It means a lot to hear that, especially from you."

The pair sat in silence, allowing the heaviness of the topic to settle before speaking again.

"What are you doing for the rest of the day?" Kate finally asked.

Rick smiled, "I was hoping I could spend it with you."

Kate grinned and squeezed his hand that was still in hers. "I'd like that very much."

After leaving the diner, Rick and Kate decided to go for a walk around Central Park, holding hands nearly the entire time. It was after noon before they left the park and they stopped by a small deli for a lunch they would eat at Kate's apartment.

Kate invited him back to her apartment knowing full well that there was a high chance they'd find their way to her bedroom. When they finished their lunches and sat back to watch a movie, the opening credits had barely finished before they were making out like hormonal teenagers. At the introduction of the movie's conflict, Kate was straddling Rick on the couch as they started removing clothing. Around the time the movie's rising action was playing on screen, Kate and Rick had already stumbled their way into her bedroom to deal with Rick's own rising action. The disappointing climax of the movie came well after two, and nearly two more, satisfying and mind-blowing climaxes took place in the next room.

Rick and Kate laid out on her bed, breathing heavily after a second round. Kate looked over to her companion with a blissful grin that matched Rick's.

"Wow, that was even better than I remembered," Rick admitted, unaware until was too late that Kate wouldn't know what he truly meant by that.

"Been a long time for you, Ricky?" Kate teased.

Rick let out an uncomfortable laugh, realizing he had dodged a giant bullet, "Yeah, something like that."

Kate rolled to her side and rested her head against Rick's shoulder and threw an arm around his waist. "I could definitely get used to this," she murmured into his neck.

"So does that mean you're open to a third date?"

Kate lifted her head to look him in the eyes. "What do you think, Writer Man?" She gave him a coy look and then pulled him into another kiss.