More than Expected

Part 36

October 31, 2013
Rick and Kate are cuddled on the couch in her family living room. All of their friends are at Halloween parties and her parents are at a late meeting at the firm leaving the young parents alone with their 29 day old son. They had sat Martha, Jim, and Johanna down on Monday to tell them the news about the move. They took time to plan out when they would be visiting Rick and getting everything figured out before telling their parents about the orders and their plan:
*Flashback to October 28, 2013*
They had just finished dinner when Kate squeezed his leg, letting him know that it was time to tell them. "So, we have something to tell you guys." Rick says, "Richard, this better not be another baby." Martha jokes. Everyone laughs and Kate shakes her head, "No, that's not happening for awhile." She emphasizes the last word. "No babies. But, I did get my orders of where I'll be stationed next." Rick says, "Uh oh. This can't be good. If it was good news we'd be eating out for dinner." Jim states, "Where are you going?" Johanna asks, "Fort Bragg, North Carolina." He begins.
"I have to check in by January 31 and will be there until June 2017 when they transfer me somewhere else." Rick says. They watch as the realization settles in on the adults' faces. "Katie, what are your thoughts on this?" Johanna asks her daughter, "Well, we were planning when Royce and I could go out there to see them while I'm still in school; but, after I graduate-," She can't even finish her sentence before Jim jumps in, "'But after graduation' what?" Her father asks sternly. "After graduation, I plan on moving to North Carolina. Royce and I." She says.
      Jim had stood straight up and shook his head, "No. Absolutely not." He argues, "Jim-," Johanna tries to calm him down, "No, Johanna, they're just kids. She's not graduating and just leaving. What are you going to do down there, Katherine?" Jim asks his daughter, "I'm going to be a mom. That's what's important to me right now. Raising my son and supporting Rick." She says in a confident tone. "Jim, Katie will be an adult by that point. We don't get a say." Johanna says, "Katie, you-you can't move that far." Jim shakes his head.
      The teen sighs and reaches her hands across the table to hold her father's, "Daddy, it's going to be okay. I'm going to be okay. You know Rick is going to take care of Royce and I. And, we're our own little family now. We need to be together. It's not fair to make Rick miss years of his son's life because his way of providing for us moves him away." Kate says. Jim sighs and looks down at his lap before making eye contact with Rick, "You'll take care of her? Both of them?" "Absolutely, Sir, that has been my number one priority since Kate and I started dating. Even before then."
*End Flashback*
      They're in the middle of the third Nightmare on Elm Street when they hear Royce's cries cut through the baby monitor. "He's probably hungry." Kate says, "I'll go get him." He tells her before kissing her forehead and standing from the couch. She smiles as she watches him walk into the office where the mobile bassinet is set up. A few minutes later, he walks back out with their son in his arms. Everyone had told her about how much she would love her baby, but no one told her how her love for Rick would grow once she saw him become a dad.
      Rick places the baby in her arms before sitting down next to her. She lowers her top and unhooks her nursing bra to allow her son to latch, "Okay to play the movie?" He asks and she nods. He wraps his arm around the back of the couch and plays the movie. She doesn't pay any attention to the TV though, too focused on him. He must sense her staring at him cause he looks down at her, "What?" He smirks.
     "You're so handsome." She says, "Thank you, but I must say my better half is the hot one in the relationship." He says. She giggles and rolls her eyes. Whenever she compliments him, he seems to one up her. "I love you. So much." She whispers. He leans down and kisses her, "I love you too. I love our little family." He says. They both look down at their nursing son, his big blue eyes looking up at his mother. "I know, Bud, she's beautiful isn't she?" He rhetorically asks the baby. Kate giggles and shakes her head.
      "I don't know if I've ever thanked you for giving me him. I know he was a surprise gift, but he's still the best gift I've ever received." She tells him, "Thank you for carrying him and giving birth to him. Everyday, when I look at you, I go back to watching you deliver him. I'm so in awe of you." He tells her. She smiles up at him and rests her head on his shoulder. It still blows her mind that she's not even legally an adult yet, but she already has her own family. She wouldn't change it for the world, though.
Part 36! Just a cute fluff chapter. Please checkout my other Caskett story 'Woman in White' and be on the look out for another Caskett story coming soon.