Back and Forth (A Castle Fanfiction)

First Night Home

The next day, when Kate got home, Martha and Alexis were there waiting for her with Jim. Alexis was the first to dash toward Kate and Kate had no problem holding the little three year old after her night away from her. With Alexis still clinging to her side, Jim was the second person to pull Kate into a warm embrace while Martha did the same for her son. The two then switched places and Martha took Kate while Jim gave the writer a hardy hand shake.

After that initial welcome and Martha's fine cooked meal, Kate dragged herself over to the couch and just laid there, cuddling with Alexis as the child and she watched cartoon. Her free hand never once left her stomach. For a while, Rick stayed in the kitchen with his mom and her dad talking about the baby and what the doctor said about stress and such. Both seemed concerned, but he told them he had a plan for her to be able to stay home. Then, once Martha was satisfied (and a little tipsy from the number of glasses of wine she had swallowed down) Rick called a taxi for her and she went back to her apartment for one more night.

While Jim and Rick were alone, they talked about things only they could understand about the woman on the cggRickRick told her father about the ring and then asked him for help with his project. Jim accepted faster than Rick had ever seen him move, and the writer told him he would be by the next day with everything prepared. After that, Jim said goodbye to his baby girl and then slipped away into the night. Once he was gone, Rick sat on the end of the couch, rubbing Kate's feet, watching her and their little girl slowly drift asleep.

He then lifted Alexis first, taking her to her room, tucking her in and kissing her forehead before turning on her nightlight and saying goodnight from the door. Once he left her snug in her bed, he walked back downstairs and came to a gentle halt beside the couch. Kate was still sound asleep, her hands both resting over her stomach as she curled slightly up to herself on her side. He watched her sleep for a moment, taking in her beauty as the moonlit made her soft skin glow. She looked like an angel. She was perfection to him. "If only," he thought, "she could see herself the way I see her."

With that, he cradled her in his arms and lifted her into the air, her head tucking into the crook of his neck, her arms tucked one over her stomach, one over his shoulder as even in her sleep, she knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her. As he watched her sweetly moan and rest into his chest, a smile dawned on his lips. He then carried her off into their room, softly laying her on their bed and then pulling the blanket over her. Once he took off his socks and shoes, then his shirt and pants, he climbed into bed with her just in time to hear her utter sweetly, "Thank you, Rick."

His eyes traced over to hers which were still closed. "For what," he asked.

"For everything," she whispered.

His smile returned as he watched her a moment. He then leaned in, laying a kiss along her forehead and telling her softly, "Always."

The next morning, when the couple rose together, something strange overcame Kate. Her eyes of frenzy hooked onto the writer's sleeping lips, and she rolled over a bit more to enact a plan. As one hand combed over the writer's cheek, the other held her up and her smile became lined with her tongue. He fluttered his eyes as she stroked his cheek, and when her hand then swept down his neck to his chest, her words in a soft voice filled with desire woke him completely. "Rick, come on big guy, wake up." His eyes then floated over to her. "There's my lover."

"Kate, what are you doing," the writer questioned.

She grinned, "Only trying to have a good time."

"Kate, come on, I'm not in the mood," he gently denied.

She then got even more intrigued as her hand slid down and found just what she was looking for. "Well, Rick, I think I can certainly get you there," she replied with a squeeze to his package.

"You just got back from the hospital, Kate."

"And?"

"And you're supposed to be on bed rest."

"Come on, Rick," she moaned gently, pulling her hand back up to his face,stroking his cheek. "All I want is you."

"And believe me, I want to please you, but-," instantly, a young girl burst through their door.

"Mommy! Daddy!" The child leaped onto the bed, pleasing her father while slightly disappointing Kate.

"Hey pumpkin," Kate spoke, "When did you wake up?"

The child shrugged. "Can we go to the park?"

"Alexis, sweetheart, daddy has to go do something for work today, and mommy needs a little bit of rest today. She can't play as much as she usually does. But maybe Gram can take you when she gets here."

"You have to work," Kate questioned.

The writer shrugged and lied, "They need me for a publishing issue for the next novel and then for a signing tour run down."

"Signing tour," Kate asked in partial panic.

He replied, "It's not going to be the typical tour. I'm going to hit New York City, Las Angeles, Seattle, and Chicago. Four stops, four days over the course of two weeks, I won't be gone for more than a day on any of those days, and it won't be for another two months."

"Rick..." Kate began in severe concern and aching.

"I know, I know. I'm trying to see if I can't extend the publishing date of the second book for another month, but they are really bullheaded about this stuff. I'm trying my hardest." In that moment, she believed him, accepted the apologetic, guilt filled kiss to the forehead and a second on her swollen stomach as his honest truth. She assumed he was telling the truth, that is, however this was all a ploy for his surprise. The added bonus was that two days ago he had been told the release date was pushed a month, so he had another round of good news for her when he got home.

With a stomach full of breakfast and a kiss goodbye, the writer started toward his soon-to-be father-in-law's house with Kate's mother's ring and a grin of inspiration.