Rick stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror: wet hair, second day stubble, dead eyes and a powder blue polo shirt.

It's not gonna be that bad, he repeated, again and again, in his mind. It couldn't be, right? Ten hours with Meredith; he'd done it before. A hundred times. The world didn't end. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of dread that made his bones feel too heavy for his body. He wanted to climb back into bed, to curl up beside Kate and sleep the day away.

"That colour suits you," Kate said from the ensuite door.

Her voice pulled him from his internal meltdown and he shifted his gaze to lock eyes with her through the mirror. There goes his climbing back into bed plans. But her smile was soft - understanding and reassuring - and that weight in the pit of his stomach began to fade. Even having just rolled out of bed, with her hair pulled back into a bun and his robe tied loosely around her body, she was a picture of beauty.

"The shirt was a gift from Meredith," he confessed. He wasn't sure why; he just felt like she should know. A shirt was a shirt, right? There was no deeper meaning to it. "I should change."

Kate laughed and stepped closer. "Don't." She held his hand, tangled her fingers through his. "You look good," she told him. Then her eyes drifted and she took a moment to really soak in the man before her. "Really good."

"Oh, the casual day out with Dad look works for you, does it?" he asked her, trying to mask his doubt. He knew she was just trying to get him out of his own head, to keep him from being swallowed by dread. He appreciated it. "Does it, uh, tickle your fancy? Float your boat? Get your motor revving?" he joked.

She laughed again, shaking her head. "Only on you, babe."

She looped an arm around his neck and pulled him in for a slow, tender kiss.

With his eyes still closed, savouring the short but sweet moment, Rick said, "God, I wish I could just spend the day with you instead."

"Well, that's too bad because I have plans."

"You mean you weren't planning on spending the day moping, aimlessly filling in time until I returned?" Rick asked, feigning shock and offence. "Rude."

"As fun as that sounds, no. Jenny asked Lanie and I to go dress shopping with her and her sister."

His eyes widened in delight. "Wedding planning?" He'd be lying if he said the idea of Kate flipping through bridal magazines and gushing over flowing, lacy dresses didn't give him a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Not that he would tell her that, though. Not yet, anyway. "Every little girl's dream, right?"

Kate rolled her eyes, but her smile was bright. "Not every little girl's dream."

"Tell me you never tore a picture of a wedding gown out of a magazine," he dared.

"I've never torn a picture of a wedding gown out of a magazine," she replied, almost robotically.

"You're lying."

Her smile widened. "I'm lying."

"Knew it. Was it silky elegance or ruffles galore? Ooh, one of those dresses that puff out at the end like a mermaid's tail? Yeah, I can see you rocking the mermaid tail."

"Who knows, maybe one day I'll show you," she mused aloud. She patted her hand to his chest then turned around to leave the ensuite. "Finish getting ready. I'll make coffee."

He didn't take long at all.

She had just finished pouring two mugs of steaming hot coffee when he walked out of the bedroom. She picked up one of the mugs, nursed it as she leant back against the kitchen bench.

"Perfect timing," she said with a smile when he joined her in the kitchen.

Rick grabbed the other mug, lifted it to his lips and took a cautious sip.

"I needed that," he said on a dreamy sigh. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He placed his coffee back down on the island counter, then moved closer to Kate. He placed his hands on the bench, one on either side of her hips, and leant in close.

She looked up at him, a half-smile on her face, and raised an eyebrow. "Can I help you with something?"

He shook his head, his eyes never leaving hers. There was a playful, almost mischievous glint in them.

"Rick," she whispered, warning him. She knew exactly where his mind was, and on any other day she probably would mind letting him lead them both astray, but today they really didn't have the time.

"I was just thinking," he said slowly, his voice lowering to a near whisper. His gaze drifted over her, the way she was casually leaning against the counter, the warmth from the coffee still radiating from the mug in her hands. His fingers hovered just a fraction away from her, as if uncertain whether to touch her or not. "You know what? Never mind."

The words hung in the air, a gentle kind of tension settling between them. Kate's smile faded slightly, replaced by something more contemplative.

She tilted her head, studying him. "No, tell me."

Rick's hands finally moved, one gently brushing against her hip. "It's nothing."

"Please?" she urged, her voice a little more fragile, more wrought with concern, than it had been just moments ago.

"I just- I was wondering if you happened to have a plus one for the wedding," he said nervously.

Kate exhaled, her smile widening as relief washed over her. She let out a small laugh. "My God, Rick, you scared me."

"Well that's only because you always expect the worst," he replied, half joking, half serious.

She frowned and playfully pushed at Rick's chest. "Hey!"

But he caught her hand, brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"I was kind of hoping you'd be my plus one."

Rick smiled. "I would be thrilled to be your plus one," he said playfully.

Kate took another sip of her coffee, her thoughts turning for a moment to Ryan and Jenny's wedding. She'd been looking forward to it - mostly - but she hadn't really thought much about the details until now. She hadn't realized how important it may have been to Rick, though—how much he may have wanted to feel like a real part of her world.

"I'm glad," she said softly, her voice more serious now. "It'll be nice, I think."

Rick raised an eyebrow, studying her with just a hint of curiosity. "You think? You don't sound too convinced."

"Well, I don't know. I guess there's a small part of me that's been trying to avoid it all: the planning, the excitement." She paused for a moment, considered her words. "It's complicated, I guess."

Because it wasn't all that long ago that she thought it would be her and, even though she knew she was better off now, there was still a very small part of her that wished she was still in that little bubble, that wished her world hadn't be rocked so completely.

Rick took the coffee from her hand and placed it on the bench, then he cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.

"It will be nice," he said, his tone quiet but reassuring. "I will be right by your side. And when you see how stupidly happy your friends are, nothing else will matter."

The sincerity in his voice made her heart skip a beat, made the lingering hurt in her heart fade away. She closed her eyes, focused on the warmth of his hands on her and told herself that everything - at least for now - was exactly as it should be. She may still feel off balance some days, but she trusted that the pieces of her life were falling into their rightful place.

She looked up at him and smiled, the urged to remove some of the heaviness from the moment was too strong to ignore. "Have you ever been to a wedding where you're not the groom?" she asked in jest.

"Wow." Rick laughed and pulled away from her. "And to think, I was trying to be nice!"

She reached out for him, grabbed the fabric of his shirt and pulled him back to her - not that he put up much of a fight.

"I'm sorry," she said through poorly stifled laughter. "I'm sorry."

"You're so lucky you're cute," he said, shaking his head.

Kate combed her fingers through his hair, then pulled him closer, captured his lips with hers. Instantly, his hands fell to her thighs, fingertips toying with the hem of the robe before continuing their exploration underneath the thin cotton.

"I knew it," Kate breathed against his lips, fighting against the rise of goosebumps on her flesh. "You have a one-track mind."

"Not true. My mind has many tracks," Rick argued as he peppered kisses along her jaw and neck. "They just all happen to detour past Pleasing You Avenue."

She laughed but before she could respond she heard a door upstairs loudly close.

Rick stopped and took a step backward - placing a more acceptable amount of space between them - just as Alexis came bounding down the stairs, metaphorically dousing them both with ice cold water.

"Mum's on her way," the teen announced excitedly, completely oblivious to what she had interrupted.

Rick closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping as he let out a long, exaggerated sigh.

Kate couldn't help but smirk. "That's my cue," she said.

"You'll come back, right?" Rick asked as she began to walk back to the bedroom. She turned to face him, tilted her head as she waited for clarification. "Tonight. We'll be back by seven."

"Aren't you sick of me?"

Rick smiled. "Never."

Morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the little boutique store, casting a warm glow over rows of satin, lace and tulle. The air was filled with the scent of fresh florals and the soft melody of romantic songs played in the background.

"It's totally normal that I'm nervous, right?" Jenny asked no one in particular.

Her sister, Anna, grinned and shook her head. "Your wedding is still five months away; there's plenty of time."

Any passer-by would think she were playing the part of supportive sister but, after having listened to Jenny's rants over these passed months, Kate knew better than to take anything the Anna said at face value.

"I mean, your wedding photos will be something you look back on for the rest of your life but, like, no pressure or anything."

Kate closed her eyes, took a breath and shook her head. No pressure.

"It's okay, Jenny," she said, smiling warmly at her friend. "You're going to look amazing, whatever you choose."

Jenny's smile was faint but genuine. "I just- I didn't realize how overwhelming this would be."

"Take a deep breath." Lanie wrapped her arm around Jenny's shoulders. "We're all here with you. Let's just make this fun."

The boutique assistant approached them, clipboard in hand, and introduced herself.

"Good morning, ladies!" she greeted in a chipper voice. "I'm Georgia, and I'll be your consultant for today. Have you been looking at any particular styles?"

"I haven't really been looking at anything yet," Jenny confessed. "I just, I don't know, I want it to feel like me, you know?"

"Of course," Georgia agreed.

"And she wants to wow everyone when she walks down the aisle," Anna added, then looked at her sister. "Right?"

Jenny nodded. "Right."

Georgia smiled warmly. "Let's start with something classic, but we'll make sure it feels special. You'll find something that suits your personality, I promise."

She guided them toward a section of dresses with delicate lace overlays, flowing skirts, and intricate beadwork.

As Georgia began pulling dresses from the racks, Anna leaned in and whispered to Jenny. "So, have you picked which band you want?"

Jenny glanced at her sister. "I think we're going to hire a DJ."

"A DJ?"

"Yeah. Kevin and I have different tastes in music; we want something that everyone can enjoy."

"It's not everyone's wedding, Jen," Anna insisted. "It's yours."

"And Kevin's," Jenny reminded her.

"How about this?" Georgia pulled a long-sleeved, ivory lace dress from the rack and held it up to Jenny's shoulders.

Anna's eyes widened. "It's stunning!"

"It is," Jenny agreed, looking at herself in the mirror. "It's beautiful. I just don't think it's me."

As the sisters began to quietly bicker, Kate took a few steps away from the tension and took a moment to look around the room, to take in the many shades of white that hung on these racks. Ghost white, smoke white, eggshell white - she was certain she could only tell the difference because they were packed in so close together. An ivory dress caught her attention, the slightly darker material standing out in the sea of whites, and she reached out to brush the tips of her fingers along the lace embellished gown.

"It's pretty," Lanie said, startling Kate. She hadn't realised her friend had snuck up on her. "Not really something I can picture Jenny in, though."

Kate turned to Lanie, saw the knowing smirk on her friends face and rolled her eyes.

"Something I should know?" Lanie asked, the underlying meaning so clear.

"I'm looking for Jenny," Kate insisted. "I lingered for, like, two seconds and your radar went off. Your radar's faulty, by the way."

"Sure it is."

Kate's phone beeped and she took the opportunity to escape this conversation, pulling it from her pocket. She couldn't help but smile at Rick's name on the screen.

"It's been, like, three hours!" Lanie laughed. "God, you guys are giving me a cavity!"

"Richard!"

Meredith's voice snapped his attention away from Kate's message. He looked up to see his daughter and his ex-wife staring at him expectantly.

"Sorry, what?"

Alexis chuckled and shook her head; Meredith wasn't quite as amused by his mental absence.

They had started their day at The Brunchery, a boutique café on Park Avenue. Three hours later and they were still there, sipping over-priced cappuccinos as Alexis unloaded months worth of high school drama to her mother. If anything, it was a testament to how little talking they actually did during their weekly Skype calls - which angered Rick beyond words - but if Alexis didn't mind then it wasn't his place to say anything. But, being the present father that he always tried to be, he had heard each one of these stories at least a dozen times already and it was becoming increasingly difficult to stay focused. So he simple sat back, allowed his daughter this much needed time with her mother, and used his time to people-watch. And text Kate. But mostly people watch.

"You could at least pretend you want to be here," she said through gritted teeth.

He swallowed down his sarcastic retort when he saw the pleading in his daughter's eyes. So far, their morning hadn't been too bad. Boring, perhaps. But not bad. That was the main thing.

"Sorry," he said, putting his phone down on the table. Then he looked at his daughter. "Continue, Pumpkin."

"I was just telling Mum that Ashley leaves next week," Alexis filled him in, her voice tinged with sadness despite the façade she tried to uphold.

"Everything is changing," Meredith said with a heavy sigh. "It's going to be hard."

"Meredith." Rick's eyes met his ex-wife's as he tried to convey a warning message.

She simply shrugged. "What? The long distance thing isn't easy. You and I couldn't make it work."

Again, Rick swallowed down his sarcastic remark.

"I thought you guys separated before you moved to LA?" Alexis asked, searching for clarification in her mother's face.

"We did," Rick confirmed.

"There were a few months where we were, uh, somewhere in between being together and separated," Meredith explained with a soft smile.

Alexis had been far too young to truly remember those 'in between' months; the months in between Rick finding his wife in bed with another man and when he finally pulled the plug on a relationship that had been too far gone to ever get back; the months where he had desperately tried to forgive Meredith's indiscretions for the sake of their family. She had moved across the country in those months - for her career, she had claimed - and, honestly, that was probably the best thing she had ever done for him. He had always found it easier to see the bigger picture when she wasn't in his face, making promises she would never keep.

"My point is: it's okay to be scared. You're both growing, and sometimes that means you'll have to grow in different directions. But that doesn't mean the love you share won't last, or that you won't figure it out. Love is not just about staying close in the same place. Sometimes it's about supporting each other, even from far away."

"Wow," Rick muttered, staring in disbelief as Meredith draped her arm across their daughter's shoulders. "That's actually pretty good advice, Mer."

"She gives really good advice, Dad."

"Your father is no stranger to my advice," Meredith told Alexis, a reminiscent smile on her face. "I used to be the first person he'd come to for advice."

"Yeah-" Rick laughed. "And most of the time that advice would land me in trouble," he accused.

Meredith rolled her eyes. "He exaggerates," she defended. "It was all harmless fun."

"Harmless fun?" he repeated sceptically. "Do I need to remind you of our trip to Tijuana?"

Meredith laughed heartily, throwing her head back at the memories. "Oh my God, I forgot about that!"

"Forgot?" Rick exclaimed. "I almost got arrested!"

Meredith grinned. "Oh, but we had so much fun, didn't we?"

And, despite his earlier frustration, a smile tugged at Rick's lips.

"Wait, what happened in Tijuana?" Alexis asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I think that's a story for another time," Rick said.

"Maybe next Family Day," Meredith added with a smirk.

Alexis looked at her father, her eyes lit with the unspoken question. Will there be another Family Day?

Rick smiled. "Yeah, maybe."

Authors note:

I'm sorry, I had to split this chapter because it was waaaaaay too long!
But Family Day is well on it's way and, look, it's not actually all that bad! Right? Everyone is getting along and reminiscing... what could possibly go wrong?