Back and Forth (A Castle Fanfiction)

Sparking Thought

That day, when Rick and Alexis traveled off to the park while Kate went to school and work, Rick sat at the swings while Alexis played with her friend, the young boy Kate was tutoring, Cavin, he couldn't stop thinking about the future. Alexis was about to have a baby brother. In three months, he was going to have a son to take care of. The trips to the park would be fewer in number for a little while, but eventually he would be bringing his five year-old daughter and two year-old son to the park to run around and play together. He and Kate would be strolling around the city with two little ones twisting and turning about.

By that time, they would be married. By the time their son was two, he and Kate would have tied the knot and made it official. Hell, they might even be thinking about bringing another little stinker into the household. Or maybe, if she didn't want a third kid, they would have a big dog to walk, or a couple of dogs. Maybe they would have a dog, a cat, and two little sets of feet beating against the floor boards. Maybe they would have moved into the Hamptons. Maybe she would change her mind about becoming a cop and want to be a stay at home mom. Who knows what could happen? They could be anywhere doing anything.

All he cared about was having her there with him. All he cared about was that the four of them were together, and that his wife and his kids were happy. And in two years, she would be his wife. In his mind, that was already a given. She already had said yes. Being together just felt too right to ever fall apart.

As Rick watched the kids run about, he smiled to the man in the military uniform walking toward him. He had talked to Javier a few times while the kids played but generally Alexis and Cavin met at the library, stayed a while after his tutoring session was through, and then maybe went to the park down the street. This was atypical. Heck, Rick wasn't even aware this park existed, and he was shocked when Javi called to set up a play date. Especially considering, at the age of eight, Alexis was pretty young to be playing with Cavin. But then again, Alexis didn't play like a three year old. She played like she was six, and so did Cavin.

When Javi reached the swings where the writer was sitting, he stated, "Hey, Rick. How's it hangin?"

"Decent," Rick replied. "How about you?"

"Pretty good," the man said with a bobbing head. "So, I finally got around to reading that Storm novel of yours. It was pretty tight. You're a decent author, man."

Rick smiled. "Thanks, Javi. That means a lot."

"So, ah, Rick. How is- how's Kate doin? Cavin says she's been doing some weird stuff lately."

To this, Rick's eyebrow caved in. "Weird stuff?"

The man nodded, "Yeah, he ah- he said he went to hug her the other day and she flinched away pretty bad. Apparently she nearly fell over."

"Seriously," the writer questioned, "She hadn't seemed jumpy to me. When was this?"

"Two days ago," the man replied.

The time then registered. "Oh, actually, now that you say that, I know what he's talking about. Her dad just got back from rehab yesterday and she had been pensive about him coming home. She let her blood sugar get low a few times and got flinchy about me too. She's alright."

"So her dad's back," the soldier questioned. Rick nodded. "He was in rehab?" Again, Rick nodded. Javi then asked, needing to know but feeling bad for having to ask, "Was her dad the one who, ah- who hit her?"

Rick looked at Javier and waited a moment before telling him, "Yeah, but- I wouldn't talk to her about it if I was you. I mean, she takes my head off for bringing it up every now and then, so- avoiding the topic with her might be what she needs. And- she's much, much better now. I doubt it will be a problem again. Not that I won't still be looking for it, though."

"Has she ever considered going to a Al-Anon meeting? It might... help. I mean, if she needs it."

"Oh, she didn't-... the alcohol thing is, ah... It's new. Her mom was murdered last November, and her dad couldn't handle it."

"That was new?" Rick affirmed. "So she'd only been hit that one time?"

"Well, she says it only happened once, but I'm not sure I completely believe her. She didn't seem like she was in shock that night. And she didn't react like that was the first time it had ever happened. Besides, she was trying to move out. I can't imagine she would want to leave him like that if something wasn't driving her away."

Javi made a face in thought for a moment before telling the writer, "Well, I have three more weeks before I'm off on that peace keeping job in the East. If Kate wants to talk about something, will you let her know that I'm always free and that, being a foster kid, tossed from home to home, I kind of understand what that kind of temporary abuse feels like? I'm here for her if she needs me."

Rick smiled and nodded, "If I see she's still on edge, I'll let her know."

"Thanks man," Javi said.

"Anytime."

For a short while, the air cleared and the two men said nothing more. Then, as Javi studied the writer as he watched the kids dash around the playground, Cavin acting like Alexis' older brother, he noticed Rick's grin never disappeared. Javi tookthe leap, "So, you must be pretty excited, huh? I mean, Kate's, what, thirty weeks along now?"

Rick smiled and nodded, "Thirty-one weeks tomorrow, and yes I am."

"She tells me you have the nursery all set up," Javi commented.

"Yep. The only thing we don't yet have ready is," Rick caught himself. He wasn't supposed to say anything yet. But- he was going to anyway. It was Javi. He wouldn't ask many questions. "Is his name."

"Gotcha," the soldier confirmed, "I take it the baby will have your last name?"

The writer shrugged, "Yeah, why?"

"Well, you two aren't married yet. I know so girl who have had their boyfriends' babies and given the kids their last name for simplicity sake. I mean, if you break up, she might want her son to have her last name."

"I don't- I don't think that's going to happen," Rick honestly answered. "We've always had name conversations with my last name, and I have no intention of breaking up with her."

"Not right now, but have you ever been in a relationship where you had every intention to break up with a girl while she's living in your apartment, carrying your kid?"

This silenced the writer. He was in awe. He didn't know what to say or what to think. After Javi realized this was bothering Rick, he quickly tried to ammend the damage, but the damage was done. Rick didn't even know how to feel. In that instant, they moved on, but Rick just kept thinking about that future he already had built in his brain. Two years down the road, he felt it had to be her with him and their kids, happily married, living the life she so deserved. That had to come true.

When they got in the car, Alexis in the back all strapped in, Rick sitting up front with his keys in thw ignition without the car started, he turned around and looked at his daughter. "Alexis, what would you think about Kate being at the loft more permanently?"

"What do you mean," the girl asked, confused by the question.

With no better way to say it, Rick asked, "I mean, how would you feel if Kate did become like- your new mommy?"

Her eyes began to gleam. "Really daddy?"

"So you wouldn't mind that, I take it," Rick smirked.

"Kate can be my new mommy," the girl said in excitement.

Rick then smiled, "Well, alright then, but you have to keep this a secret, alright? Just between you and me."

Alexis then smiled and said, "Okay, daddy." And with that, with a gleam in his eyes, Rick started the car, and started toward their home.