Frozen Love (A Castle Fanfiction)

Planning Ahead

"You sure you have everything you need?" I triple checked with my dad. This was the first time he would be alone with Brayden to babysit. Since Rick was off with the boys for another hour to prove to Javi that wearing a tuxedo was not actually torment and Alexis and Lanie were joining me to pick out the bridesmaids dresses and Alexis' pseudo-tux, he was our last resort as Martha was once again MIA.

My father answered honestly, "Kate, everything I could possibly need is in this loft, and I'm no more than a phone call away from reaching either you or Rick. Plus, it's not as though I've never been around kids before. And you've given me a tour of every possible item I could find use for in the house. I think we'l be fine."

"Alright," I said, still unsure. Still, I could feel Lanie's impatience growing. "Just- don't hesitate to call, alright? And I just fed him about an hour ago, so he shouldn't get hungry. If he starts crying and you can't get him to settle down, turn on the TV and Rick has it set to the channel B generally falls asleep to. And don't hesitate to call, alright?"

"You have been out of the house on your days off since B was born, haven't you?" he questioned.

Alexis answered, "If they don't take him, I've been their only babysitter with my grandma and they never go too far."

Lanie added, "I haven't even been able to take the baby outside of her sight. And I'm a doctor."

"You be good, kiddo," I said to my son, ignoring their comments, "Don't drive randpa nuts, alright? Make sure you don't do anything daddy would high five you for, alright?" Brayden stared into my eyes and then seened to catch up on the reality that I was about to leave. He fussed a bit and reached one hand out toward me. My heart ached. I debated staying for a moment, but knew I couldn't.

Alexis then told my father, "If he starts crying when we leave, he has a stuffed blue puppy sitting on the end table. It generally calms him down. I know he generally cuddles with it when I'm here." He nodded and then took as little time as possible to pursuede me out the door. When we got in the car, I looked at the car seat in the back and felt a twinge of guilt. I knew I didn't get much time with my son and I hated leaving him on my days off, but I kind of needed a girl's outting. Being stuck at home all of the time was keeping me from keeping up with the other people I cared about. I mean, it had gotten to the point where I didn't even know whether Lanie was single or not.

So, I shipped off with them. We met Maddie at the bridal shop about forty minutes later where she propmtly shrieked and tackled me in a hug. She then took Alexis into a hug and greeted her as my "future stepdaughter" which sounded so weird to me. I mean, Alexis was almost eighteen. It seemed weird to me that she was actually going to be my step daughter. It was just-... weird. I mean, I'd never acted like a mother to her even once. Although, I wasn't afraid to admit that our relationship was complicated to those who didn't know us, but- I wasn't her step-mom no matter what the technical title was.

Anyway, we got into the shop and the moment the girls got inside, Lanie and Maddie went surfing through the racks. I specifically told them to find a dress that was either full length or close to it. Alexis obviously couldn't shop for herself really. Instead we would all have to go find a shop that sold women's pant suits for her. But the three of them found several different options, many of which I had to veto for the fact that they weren't either of the colors I'd given the girls to chose from.

Eventually we found two dresses Lanie and Maddie both adored. The woman helping us helped them both into the dresses and Alexis and I stood to wait for their show to begin. Maddie came out first wearing a pale sky blue, full length dress with a sweetheart neckline. The flow of the dress from the point beneath the fitted bust was soft and elegant, draping beautifully and fitting gorgeously. As much as this dress was gorgeous, it wasn't the dress the girls ended up adoring.