Niko pulled up to the McReary brownstone and shut off the engine of the Patriot. Natasha stared in awe, much like she had all morning, at the site of the rowhouses that lined the street.
"This is much different than the village." She said, unbuckling her seatbelt and opening the passenger side door. "Living like this is normal?" She said, looking over at Niko as he prepared to exit the vehicle as well.
"Yes, for the most part. People live close to each other in the city." They made their way to the steps as Kate pulled open the door to her family home.
"You're early." She said cheerfully, motioning for them to come in. They obliged and Natasha took in the scent of something sweet baking.
"I'm finishing up some cookies. I thought Natasha might enjoy something homemade." Kate said, closing the door behind them. "Have a seat, they should be about ready to pull from the over."
They both laid claim to a spot on the couch, Niko casually settling in as if this was his second home. Natasha looked around the living room, taking in the crackling fire place and the older television in the corner. It was unsettling how much this room reminded her of home.
"I see you have a tag along, me boy." Maureen said as she entered the room. Natasha attempted to stand, but was quickly ushered to sit back down by the McReary matriarch. "No need for those pleasantries here my dear. I'm Maureen, Kate tells me you're Nicholas' sister?"
"Natasha. Nice to meet you." She said with a nod. "Thank you for allowing me in your home."
"No thanks needed, lass. Any sister of this boy here is welcome any time." Maureen said, settling into her chair. "Now. What are you're plans for the day?"
"I don't know." Natasha said with a shrug. "Kate said I could go on some errands with her. I just got here yesterday, I don't know much about the city."
"Ah, she'll take good care of ye, don't worry. And you Nicholas?" She aimed her sights on Niko.
"I don't know. Didn't have much planned until this evening." He said.
"Right. Got to get ready for your date." Maureen said with a wink.
"I…it's just dinner…" Niko said, cheeks turning red as Kate came back into the room.
"Give them a few minutes to cool and you can help yourselves." Kate said with a smile, oblivious to her mother's teasing.
"Katie here is a phenomenal baker, makes most everything from scratch." Maureen said, nodding at her daughter.
Natasha looked around at the occupants of the room. Niko rubbing a hand over his face to hide his blushing cheeks. No one could embarrass her brother, but this woman had done something with just a few words. Not a date my ass she thought as she watched Kate take a seat on the armrest next to Niko.
"I think I'll grab a few for everyone." Maureen said, standing up and making her way to the kitchen.
"You okay?" Kate asked Niko. "You look flustered."
"I'm fine." He cleared his throat. "Your mother is just…very upfront."
"That she is." Kate said with a laugh as Maureen reentered, cookies in hand. She passed one out to her guests and Kate before taking a seat in her chair once more.
"Chocolate chip?" Niko asked, taking a bite.
"Yep." Kate said.
Natasha followed her brother's lead and sank her teeth into the warm cookie. She let out an audible sound of satisfaction as the chocolate melted in her mouth.
"These are amazing." Natasha said, nodding toward Kate. "You can cook for me anytime." She said, receiving laughter from the others.
"I should probably let you two get to it." Niko said, popping the last bite of cookie into his mouth. "I'll see you later?" He said to Kate.
"Of course. I'll drop her off if you'd like." Kate said, meeting his gaze.
Niko gave her a perplexed look.
"I do have a license. There's just no point in driving anywhere if you don't need to." Kate said, clearing up his confusion. "Plus it was always fun to have you come get me. Very gentleman like." She teased, walking with him to the door.
"Right." He said, smirking. "Just let me know when you two are on your way." He gave his sister a look. "Be good." He called to her before stepping outside.
"Yeah, yeah." Natasha waved her hand in his direction and looked at Maureen. "Can I have another cookie?" she asked excitedly.
GTAGTAGTAGTAGTA
After cleaning up from her baking, Kate led Natasha out to the curb where a Sentinel was parked. She pressed the button on the fob and the lights flashed as the doors unlocked.
"Niko didn't know you could drive?" Natasha asked, lowering herself into the passenger seat.
"Well he never really asked." Kate said, sliding behind the wheel. "Everywhere I usually need to go is within walking distance or a train ride away." She turned the key in the ignition and the car roared to life. "Today, I thought we'd go to the other side of the city, driving is actually quicker."
Kate pulled away from the curb and into traffic. She tuned the radio station to The Vibe and set the volume low in case Natasha had questions. They drove in silence for a long while before Natasha spoke.
"So how well do you know my brother?" Natasha asked. "He seems fond of you."
Taken aback, Kate glanced over at her before turning her attention back to the road.
"I…well we've spent a good amount of time around each other. He's told me about the war and your mother." She paused "He never mentioned you." She admitted.
"That's fair." Natasha nodded. "He didn't want me here. He begged mother to keep me back home. I don't think he thought any of you would ever meet me." Unfazed, she looked out her window.
"You don't seem bothered."
"I'm not." She watched as a couple men on the sidewalk argued with one another as other pedestrians tried their best to avoid the two. "Niko keeps to himself. I'm surprised he said anything about the war. He's not exactly socially gifted. I'm sure he would have said something about me eventually."
Kate pulled over in front of a row of stores and shut off the car.
"I'm sure you're right." Kate said, she then pointed at the store front. "Since you know him better than most, I thought maybe you could help me something."
Natasha looked over the façade of the building and tilted her head as she read the sign.
Tess's Clothing Boutique
"Clothes shopping?" Natasha asked, looking back at Kate.
"I thought maybe you could help me pick something out. We're supposed to have dinner this evening, I don't really have anything to wear that he hasn't seen before." Kate admitted.
"So you want to impress him? It's not that hard." She snorted. "You're much more impressive than the girls he dated in the village, prettier too."
Kate could feel her cheeks redden. "Let's go, shall we?" She said, opening her car door and stepping out into the cool autumn air.
Natasha followed her lead, shoving her hands in her jacket. She frowned as she pulled out a note and some cash. She stopped on the sidewalk and opened the note.
I thought you could use this. Enjoy yourself. -Niko
She smiled at the words written in her home language before shoving it back in her pocket and examining the bills. Niko had slipped at least four hundred dollars in her pocket, probably before he left the McReary house.
"Everything okay?" Kate asked, reaching for the door to the boutique.
"Yeah." Natasha said, folding the bills and slipping them in the front pocket of her jeans. "Everything's great." She said, following Kate into the shop.
Natasha looked around, taking in the different outfits on display as Kate made her way to a rack of dresses.
"What are you looking for?" Natasha asked, joining her new friend.
"Something…I don't know, not to formal but not informal either, if that makes sense."
Natasha looked around before spotting a dark blue cocktail dress at the end of the rack. Separating it from the others, she held it up to show Kate.
"He does like blue." She said, looking at the tag. "And I guess this is a good price. I don't know much about American money."
Kate took the dress from her, checking the size. It would fit, she thought as she examined it. She glanced over at the dressing room.
"Wouldn't hurt to try it on." Kate said with a shrug.
Natasha shrugged, glancing over at her as she continued to flip through other articles of clothing on the rack.
Kate made her way to the back of the store and chose an open fitting room. With a sigh, she slid the latch shut and went about pulling off her sweater and jeans. She gave herself a once over in the mirror before slipping the dress over her head and smoothing it down her over her frame. Turning her attention back to the mirror, she bit her bottom lip as she took in her appearance.
At least this doesn't scream virgin… she thought to herself before exiting the room.
"Natasha, give me a hand?" she called, causing the young Bellic sibling to look up and let out a whistle.
"Wow." Natasha said, making her way around the clothing racks as Kate turned around, motioning to the zipper on the back of the dress. With a swift tug upwards, Natasha abided by the request before gently tugging on Kate's shoulder as a sign to turn toward her.
"You clean up nice, Kate. A little make up and you'll turn heads for sure!" Natasha said with a grin. "Niko won't be able to keep his hands off you!"
Kate's eyes widened and a sudden rush of self-consciousness took over.
"Isn't that the goal?" Natasha asked, concerned by the reaction she received.
"I…um. I didn't think about it that way." Kate said softly.
Not wanting to embarrass her new friend, Natasha grabbed Kate by the hand and led her back to fitting room. Closing the door behind them, she turned to face the Irishwoman and crossed her arms.
"Okay, I need information." She said. "Niko told mother you two were getting close to each other. We both took that as you were dating. Is that not true?"
"I…well…not exactly? I didn't know he was telling his family about me."
Natasha nodded, considering Kate's response. "Is that why you're out of sorts?"
"No." Kate admitted, looking down at the worn carpet of the dressing room. "I've never…been intimate with anyone before. I guess your statement kind of drilled home that I've never really put much effort into impressing anyone."
"Oh." Natasha paused, carefully considering what to say. "Hey, I don't judge others. If those are your virtues then I respect them, as does Niko." She placed a finger under Kate's chin and forced her to look up. "He can be patient, believe it or not. If you are not comfortable with any of this, it can wait."
"I think I can at least manage this." A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "He deserves a little effort. He's spent so much time with me I can't believe I didn't see how he felt."
"That's the spirit." Natasha grinned. "Let's get you out of this and get some lunch. If you're going to be seeing my brother I'd like to know you better."
GTAGTAGTAGTAGTAGTA
"Are you serious?" Natasha asked, eyes wide. "How can it be that only one of your brothers is in jail? They sound like they all should have been thrown in there long ago."
"I have no idea. Connections, I guess. They've been thugs their entire lives.
Kate shrugged. She had wrapped up the McCreary family story as they finished their meal, the short version anyway. Kate didn't have too much to add about herself, other than hinting at being the only sibling not pulled into the world of crime that had swallowed the others.
What about you? I assume things were a little different for you compared to your brother."
"Yes and no." Natasha was thoughtful in her reply. "I didn't have to fight in a war, but I had to survive it as a little girl. I couldn't understand why my brothers had to go, or why Noa wasn't coming home. I learned how to defend myself and mother if needed from a neighbor after we were left alone."
Kate frowned and studied the girls face as she spoke. It was clear to her that the past wasn't her favorite subject, as the more she recounted the more her eyes wandered the café before settling unfixed on anything besides Kate.
"I'm sorry if it isn't something you want to talk about. We can change the subject." Kate said softly.
Natasha slowly returned her gaze to her new friend, offering a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"It's okay." She said. "There isn't much to say. A childhood in a war torn village is what you'd imagine. It's hell. I'm just glad to be here now."
"Why are you here, Natasha?" The question left Kate's lips before she could reconsider them.
"Because Niko seems to be doing better in this city than he has been anywhere else, I thought I could find some happiness too. Everyone needs a change once in a while.
Natasha flagged down the waiter and handed him some of the money Niko had left her.
Please, keep the rest." She said, receiving a look of astonishment and multiple 'thank you's from the young man. "Shall we go? I'd like to help you get ready for your outing this evening, if that's alright?"
"Sure." Kate said, attempting to comprehend the exchange she had just witnessed.
Maybe it's best not to question it. Kate thought to herself. After all, Natasha was the sister of a criminal.
GTAGTAGTAGTAGTA
A/N: Not my best work, but I'm trying to clean up things up going forward. I might go ahead and rework the first few chapters and some point, but for now I just wanted to get this update to the story done. Working full time and buying a house takes a lot of time and energy so I haven't been able to add to this the way I'd like. Be patient with me, I have most of the next chapter in mind I just need to get it down in writing!