Moving Forward (Completed)

Chapter Forty Five

Katherine was browsing possible stops on her personal computer while MJ searched for things she'd like to see on Katherine's work computer. Katherine would have let MJ use her personal laptop if she hadn't loathed the crappy one the school had given them. It was slow and clunky despite being relatively new. She didn't even bother to use it for work stuff, always opting for her MacBook instead. It was mainly utilized by her students as an extra classroom computer. MJ on the other hand had no preference and had used the school issued laptop so many times in the mornings before school, she was accustomed to its quirks.

"You want me to get it?" MJ asked when the doorbell rang.

"Sure." Katherine nodded, jotting down the latest possible destination on the list she was making. It wasn't like she didn't know who was at the door.

"Braving Atlanta and your mother." Amanda chuckled while pulling out the chair across from the one MJ had sat back down in at the dining room table. The seven month old Jesse positioned in her lap so that her tiny hands could drum along the table top.

"I really don't think it'll be that bad, and my mom is excited to meet MJ."

"What about you," Amanda turned to MJ, "are you excited to visit Atlanta?"

"I'm a little nervous to meet Kate's parents, but excited for the trip in general. I've never actually left the city... Manhattan specifically... Almost eleven years spent entirely on one tiny island." MJ's gaze went to the window. "There are so many places I want to see someday."

"I'm sure you'll get to..." Amanda was distracted by Jesse who had began squirming in an attempt to get down. Not that she'd get far even if successful.

"Does she crawl?" MJ asked, watching Jesse curiously.

"Not really. She tries but mostly she just inches along the floor on her belly."

"I can take her in the living room and let her get some energy out."

Amanda glanced across the open space and nodded when she realized she'd be able to see Jesse from where she sat. MJ grinned, scooping the baby up more carefully than Katherine or Amanda had expected and took her to an open space between the couches.

"There's a bag with toys by the kitchen island."

It wasn't far from where MJ and Jesse were playing so she quickly grabbed the bag, moving it closer to where she was watching the baby, then pulled out a few crinkly books and a stuffed animal, placing them a foot or so from Jesse to see which one she'd try to move towards.

"She'll be helpful when you and Barba have one." Amanda stated.

"Yeah, she will." Katherine had had the baby talk too many times by then to feel like it again, so she opted to just agree instead and change the subject. "How are things with Sonny?"

"Good." Amanda shrugged.

"Uh oh..."

"What? I said things were good."

"Yes, but you did it in your 'I'm going to be dismissive so hopefully I don't have to talk about' kind of way." She'd known Amanda too well and for too long, there was no way she was going to let her get out of talking about whatever was bothering her.

"That's the problem... things are too good." Amanda grumbled.

"Not every relationship should be a struggle Amanda." Katherine chuckled.

"Then why do people always say marriage takes work?"

"Because two people with varying opinions have thrown themselves into spending and enormous amount of time together. Disagreements are bound to happen. Fights will happen. It's work because you're continually growing as people and finding new ways to compromise."