Second Chance

Chapter 12

Chris groaned as he watched Kate help Lucas put on his coat late one Sunday before they left. "I don't want you to go."

She shook her head, looking at Lucas, "say goodbye to Chris and then go get in your seat Luke."

He nodded, "bye Chris." He hugged him as Chris knelt down to be face to face.

"I'll miss you bud."

Lucas smiled, "I'll miss you too."

Once he was out of the house Kate turned back to Chris, "I know it's hard. But he has school in the morning. We've been spending every weekend here."

Chris nodded, running his fingers through her hair, "don't you think it's time you just move in already? We've been dating for four to five months. Like you said, you've been spending every weekend here the last two months. Please Kate. I hate having to watch you guys leave every weekend. I love you."

Kate groaned, "I know." She wrapped her arms around his midsection, looking up at him, sighing. "I'll talk to Lucas and see what he wants." She laughed at the excitement on Chris's face, "he might say no."

Chris laughed, "he won't say no. You know he won't. We can move stuff next weekend while he's with Paul's parents."

She sighed again, "like I said. I'll talk to him. I have to go. And I love you too. I hope you know how hard it is for us to leave too."

He nodded, "I know it is."

"Okay. Come over for dinner tomorrow and we can discuss it with him together."

"Really?" He smiled, "you're going to let me come over during the week?"

She laughed, "I said come over dinner, I didn't say spend the night."

He rolled his eyes, "yeah yeah. I'll be there."

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Kate opened the door, letting Chris into her apartment the following evening. She laughed at Lucas's excitement as he ran to hug Chris.

"Hey bud! I hope it's okay that I join you guys for dinner."

Lucas nodded, "obviously."

Chris laughed as he sat next to Lucas where Kate motioned at the table.

She served them all plates before sitting down in her spot across from Chris and Lucas. "So, Luke. Chris is here because we wanted to talk to you about something."

Lucas shrugged, "okay."

She chuckled, "so you really like Chris, don't you?"

Lucas smiled, "I love him mama."

She sighed, knowing it was now or never; either they leapt or they would have to walk away. There was no use wasting time in limbo like they had been. "What do you think about moving into Chris's house full time?"

"Really? Can we?"

She laughed at the excitement in his voice, "I mean, if you want to we can."

"I do want to mama! Does Chris want us to move into his house?"

"Of course I do bud." Chris chuckled as he patted Lucas on the back, "there's nothing I want more."

Kate nodded, seeing the wheels turning in Lucas's head, "what is it?"

Lucas sighed, "are you going to have a baby?"

Kate looked at Chris who only shrugged but looked at Lucas, "what makes you ask that bud?"

Lucas shrugged, "because Timmy's mom got remarried and had another baby and had less time for him because she was always with the baby."

Kate groaned, holding her hand up to Chris who was about to say something. "First of all Luke, we aren't getting married. Not right now. If at some point in the future we decided to have a baby I promise we would still make time for you. We both love you."

Chris nodded, "she's right. We both love you very much and we would never want you to feel like we loved you any less or want you any less just because we have a baby."

Lucas nodded, "okay. Can I decorate my room?"

Chris laughed at the sudden subject change, "of course you can bud. Whatever you want. You and I can go shopping next weekend and decorate your room however you like. How does that sound?"

He smiled, "okay! Thanks dad."

Kate heard him groan, apologizing.

"Sorry."

Kate sighed, shaking her head, "it's fine Lucas. I know you want to call him dad. You realize that Paul is your dad though, right? Chris only steps in as your dad because your dad Paul can't?"

Lucas nodded, "I know. Does me calling Chris dad make Paul not my dad?"

Chris shook his head, "of course not bud. Paul will always be your dad and he loved you very much. Just like I do." He shrugged, "I'm like your second dad. Paul will always be number one." He looked up to see Kate trying not to cry. He reached across the table, grabbing her hand, "it's okay love. He understands."

She nodded, "I know."

Lucas smiled, "so it's okay if I call Chris dad too?"

Kate nodded, "sure bud, only if you want to."

Lucas nodded, "I do."

Chris smiled, "I'd love if you called me dad Lucas."

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Kate dropped Lucas off at Paul's parents house on Friday afternoon, looking at Tammy and Keith, "can we talk for a minute?"

They nodded, motioning for her to enter, sitting on the couch.

She sighed, "first thing, I wanted you guys to know that we decided to move into Chris's house permanently. And Lucas has asked to him dad." She saw Tammy start to say something but she put her hand up, "let me finish. We had the discussion with him about Paul always being his father. That Chris is here standing in for him because he can't be here, not replacing him. I want to make sure you guys know it doesn't change anything. I still want you to be in his life and I still want Paul to be a big part of his life. I'm just trying to move on."

Tammy smiled, "that's great Katherine. Really. We know how much Chris loves Lucas and vice versa. We know you'd never want to replace Paul. We're happy for you, really."

Kate sighed, relieved as she stood up, "okay good. Thank you." She hugged them both before leaving.