More than Expected

Part 3

May 12, 2012
She looks at herself in the mirror and runs her hands over her dress, flattening the material out. She already feels the tears welling up in her eyes. Today she has to say goodbye to the man who was basically her big brother forever. She's never really experienced death: all except her maternal grandfather passed away before she was born and her Grandpa Bill is still alive. "Katie! C'mon! We're gonna be late." Her mother gently reminds from the bottom of the stairs. The teen slips on her gloves and grabs her Bible before walking downstairs.
They arrive at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament and head inside, "Go sit with them, Katie. Dad and I will be right here." Johanna says, encouraging her daughter to sit with her friends. Kate makes her way over the the group and her eyes immediately lock with Rick's which makes her heart skip a beat. She tries to not make it obvious that she has feelings for him. She greets all of them with a hug, "How're you doing, Sweetie?" Lanie asks, "About as good as any of us are right now." She answers honestly. Her friends nod and they sit.
      The service is beautiful and she feels at ease knowing they put Royce to rest peacefully. They stand in the cemetery after placing white roses on his casket and bow their heads as the priest says one final prayer. After the service, the friends huddle in a group. Lanie and Jenny hug Kate as the tears fall down her cheeks. As much as she loves her girls though, it isn't enough. She needs his comfort. She needs him. "Rick." She says. With one look, he knows exactly what she needs and wraps her up in his arms.
      He sees their friends give them a quizzical look but brushes it off and tends to her needs for the time being. After a few minutes, they break apart just in time for them to notice their parents are walking over, "Hey kiddos." Martha, Rick's mother, says to the group of six. "We we're just talking, and we think it would be a good idea if you all stayed with Jim and Johanna tonight. They offered to order you guys some food and let you hang out. We think it's important that you guys spend some quality time together." Jenny's mom explains.
     "Yeah, and we just opened the pool, so you guys can hang out there. You'll have the house to yourself for a few hours because we're taking Sarah and Jeff out for a late lunch/early dinner." Jim explains. The teens nod and they separate for an hour to pack their things before they're all at the Beckett residence. Once Jim and Johanna leave, they all change and get in the pool, "Hey, can we ask you guys something?" Lanie asks Rick and Kate who nod, "What was that thing at the cemetery?" Javi asks, "What are you talking about?"
     The other four scoff, "Don't play dumb with me, Katherine Beckett." Lanie warns her. The brunette blushes and looks to her boyfriend for help knowing their secret is about to be spilt, "Well, um," Rick stumbles, clearly not knowing what she wants him to say. She nods, "It's okay." She tells him, "We're together now." Rick says proudly. Their friends clap and holler, "It's about friggin' time!" Jenny exclaims. They all chuckle before moving on. It's not until the girls go inside to get some snacks and drinks that they each get interrogated by their friends.
*Beckett Kitchen: Lanie, Jenny, Kate*
     "So, how'd it all start?" Jenny asks, "How did what start?" Kate asks, "You and Rick." Lanie says, "Oh, um, he came over the night we heard about Royce passing away and we were crying to each other and then we ended up laying in my bed and I just kissed him." She admits, "Have you guys done the deed?" Lanie asks, "What!?! Lanie! No! We just started going out." Kate says, "So, it took Javi and I two weeks before we started going at it." Lanie says. Kate rolls her eyes, "Okay, well, you know I'm not like that." Kate says.
     "Once you do it, you will be." Jenny says and Lanie nods, "I don't want to rush anything." Kate says, "Oh, no, if you aren't ready then don't do it. But I know you, Kate, don't let fear hold you back. I know Rick well enough to know that he won't try or initiate anything unless he thinks you're willing and ready." Lanie says, "Yeah, he is a real gentleman." Kate says with a smile, "Which is great and what you deserve, but sometimes it's nice to have a caveman too." Lanie says and Jenny nods.
     "I'm just nervous because I know he has experience. I don't want to do anything wrong." Kate says, "Sweetie, everyone has to learn. There will be things you're naturally good at and some things you two will have to work on and improve, but if you're really committed that shouldn't be something either one of you is embarrassed about with the other." Lanie says, "100% agree. Kevin and I have been doing it for over a year and there are still things we have to adjust." Jenny says. Kate bites her lip, "I guess I should talk to him about it."
*Beckett Pool: Rick, Javi, Kevin*
     "Alright, dude, now that you got the girl, there are some things that need to be discussed." Kevin says, "Like?" Rick asks, "The next step." Javi says, "Sex?" Rick asks and they both nod, "Guys, we just started seeing each other. I'm not looking for that right now. I want her to be comfortable. I don't want to pressure her." Rick says, "That's good. You make sure you don't lay a hand on her, in that way, unless she gives you some type of sign that you two are moving in that direction and she's comfortable with it." Javi says.
     "Guys, I know what I'm doing." He says, "Do you? Kate is the first girl you've been with who hasn't had sex yet." Kevin says. He's right. Kyra, his girlfriend freshman year, was with someone before him and after her, he had on-and-off flings  with two girls: Meredith and Gina, both of whom were also rebounding from previous relationships. He's not proud of his track record at times, but he was young and stupid. "I'm aware of that. Kate is also the first girl I've ever felt this way about." Rick tells them.
     "How do you feel about her?" Kevin asks, "Call me crazy, but I think I already love her." Rick says. The guys look at him in shock, "Really?" Javi asks and Rick nods, "Well, then, if you truly love her you should be able to do the intimate stuff at her pace." Javi says and Rick nods, "I am. However long she needs, she can have all the time in the world." Rick says as they watch the women walk back outside. The guys get out of the pool and join the girls under the pavilion. Rick sits next to Kate and kisses her forehead.
     "What was that for?" She asks and he shrugs, "Just felt like it." He says. She smiles before pressing her lips to his quickly.
Part 3! What do we think?