One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 34

DJ turned his head as Kath came out of the office with Teddy, and he tried to keep himself calm when he saw that she'd been crying. "Is everything okay?" He asked, taking her hand delicately in his, lacing their fingers together and Kath slowly nodded her head.

"I'm gonna get help - prove myself as a father... and a grandfather, now," Teddy said, his own eyes still glazed with tears. "Congratulations, by the way - on the baby. You'll be an amazing Mom, Kath." Teddy praised.

"She already is." DJ agreed, kissing her forehead as she wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his chest and he held her close, kissing her hair as he rubbed her back. "Thank you, Teddy," DJ said, shaking his hand and Teddy nodded, knowing that DJ was thanking him for more than simply congratulating them. He watched Teddy walk away before turning his attention back to Kath, rubbing her back slowly. "You okay, baby?"

"Yeah... it was just years of things I wanted to say to him... and I'm hesitant that he isn't going to keep his promise, I'm feeling like shit because I don't fully believe him, I just want him to get better," Kath mumbled, her tears soaking into DJ's shirt and he sighed, holding her tighter but he knew how to hold her so that he wouldn't hurt her shoulder.

"I can't even imagine what all of this feels like for you, baby girl, but you have all of us now... my parents love you, JC approves, you already know how much Noah worships you and you still have Liza... you'll always have me," DJ vowed, kissing her forehead as she picked her head up from his chest.

"This is his last chance, okay? I-If he slips off the wagon again and doesn't keep to his promise, I want you to... to remind me of this moment because I can't take much more of him letting me down. It isn't just me he'll be letting down anymore - it's Noah and it's our child and I can't let our kids grow up around what I grew up with... drugs and alcohol were all I knew growing up and I don't want to be triggered by those things again. I was in rehab at eighteen and if I can do it as a kid, then my Dad can do it as a middle-aged man. If I want to give him yet another chance if he messes up..." Kath trailed off, sighing but her eyes locked on DJ's again as he pecked her lips.

"Then we'll sit down and have this conversation again, I promise." He vowed and Kath took a deep breath before nodding her head, wrapping her arms around him again and he kissed her hair. "Now, come on... dinner is ready and Mom is desperate to ask you every question she can about the baby - she loves babies," DJ said, rolling his eyes playfully and Kath couldn't help but laugh, letting DJ lead her through to the dining room where everybody was already sitting with a plate of food in front of them.

"Mommy!" Noah waved and Kath waved back, before sitting down next to Liza and DJ, with Noah across from them next to JC and Karla. Rommel and Teddy were at the two ends of the table.

"Is everything okay, sweetheart?" Karla asked Kath, and she nodded her head.

"I'm fine." She assured her, everybody starting to eat together for the first time.

"Good! Now, tell me everything! How's the pregnancy going?" Karla urged and DJ nudged Kath, making it take all of her willpower to not burst out laughing.

DJ laid with Noah after dinner in the spare bedroom, the little boy dressed in his pajamas and cuddled up with Leo.

"Are you and Mommy staying too?" Noah asked and DJ smiled, nodding his head.

"Yeah, bud, but we'll be sleeping on the couch - Nanna and Papi only have one extra bedroom! So, if you need anything, you come to the living room, alright?" DJ said and Noah nodded his head.

"When the baby comes, will I have to share a room?"

"Only when you come here, bud! You'll still have your own bedroom at home." He promised, kissing his cheek. "Sleep tight, monster."

"Night-night, Daddy. Love you."

"I love you too." He kissed his son again before heading out of the bedroom and he went downstairs, seeing Kath on the couch with Karla, Rommel sat in his usual armchair. JC, Liza, and Teddy had already left. "How are you feeling now?" DJ asked, kissing the top of Kath's head before joining her on the couch.

"Still a little nauseous... is Noah okay?" She asked, her voice slightly hoarse. Morning sickness had hit halfway through dinner, which led to Karla and Rommel demanding that they stay the night so Kath could rest and they wouldn't have to worry about Noah, since as they'd have help.

"He's fine, he'll be asleep already. Just relax." He said softly, the two of them wrapping their arms around each other and Kath rested her head against his chest, Karla rubbing her back gently.

"I remember these days - it'll get easier, trust me," Karla said sympathetically.

"How about a movie to take your mind off it, huh?" Rommel suggested, everybody agreeing and settling down to watch the movie.