𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐍

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟕

"Kat, you're gonna be late!"

Immediately, Katherine Louise's long legs swing over the edge of her bed and she stumbles towards her closed door, leaving a sleeping Charles Taylor in her bed. Well, he was sleeping, until Katherine hip-checked the tall dresser by the door and a string of curses left her sinful lips. 

Sophia is standing at the top of the stairs, waiting expectantly for her best friend to show her face. Once Katherine ducks into the bathroom, she heads downstairs to continue making breakfast with Chris. 

Having brushed her teeth and popped her contacts in, Katherine stands in front of her closet with crossed arms, debating on the day's attire. Charlie, unbeknownst to her, watches through the standing mirror from the bed. 

"Wear the purple one," he croaks. Katherine jumps and turns to look at him before glancing back to her closet. 

"What purple one? This one?" She pulls out a lilac blouse. He nods, sleepily closing his eyes again.

"It looks nice on you."

So she buttons it up and tucks it into a pair of black pants. Black pumps add a few inches to her height, and she shakes the braids from her hair, which now takes on more of a sandy tone, before tying half of it up into a bun. 

Silver bracelets that belonged to her mother adorn her wrists, and her diamond ring still rests comfortably on her right hand. She still wears the circle stamped with flowers and her diamond crucifix, and her mother's patron saints medallion rests in her jewelry box.

She's no warrior. Not anymore.

Katherine grabs her bag and moves for the door before skidding to a stop. She turns around, finding Charlie still gazing at her with those impossibly dark eyes. 

"You're like a lost puppy," she mutters as she trots over to him. He grins, craning his neck to meet her halfway for a kiss. His hands, always so sneaky, reach up to her hips and he tugs her onto the bed. "Charlie!" She yelps. "I'm gonna be late!"

"You've got plenty of time," he hums against her lips, arms forming a vice around her torso. 

"No, I don't," she mutters, letting herself be kissed. It's a welcome distraction. It always is. "And neither do you. I think they're making breakfast already."

Charlie groans, letting Katherine slip from his hold. "Fine," he sighs. She grins and starts for the door again.

Sophia and Chris are milling around the kitchen. Katherine always thought it was something of a miracle, considering any time one of them was in the kitchen, the other wasn't allowed in. They just get in each other's way. Chris and Sophia seem to work in perfect harmony, though, somehow always knowing where the other is. 

Sophia looks up from the island with a grin. "Where's Big and Tall?" She asks, sliding a glass of apple juice down the counter. Katherine snatches it up.

"He's comin'," Katherine replies, moving across the kitchen to get to the baby in his high chair. "Mornin', Christopher."

"Mornin', Katherine."

"Good morning, Julien," Katherine coos at the baby. He's a bundle of giggles with big green eyes and a tuft of blond hair...very different from the Madagascar character she calls him. "Thanks for being my alarm clock," she says to Sophia, grabbing a plate of breakfast from the counter—biscuits and gravy today. "You guys are my heroes."