"Hey Dad!" Jim Beckett was greeted by his daughter amid a racket of voices, music and laughing. Kate was grinning widely at him while an excited Lizzy bounced in her arms.
"Hey Katie," Jim hugged his daughter with a large smile. His smile grew when he turned his attention to his granddaughter.
"And hello to the birthday girl! Hey sweetie," he cooed. The little girl giggled and held out her arms for her grandfather who happily scooped her up.
She had her grandpa wrapped around her finger and the two of them were as thick as thieves.
"How are you, Dad?" Kate asked over her shoulder, trying to dodge Ryan's two rascals running around her while being chased by Uncle Espo.
Jim briefly took his eyes off Lizzy to look at his daughter. "Uh, I'm well, thank you, sweetie. How have you been now that you're back at work?"
Kate sighed as they came to a stop at the kitchen counter, taking a moment to pour her father a class of soda and handing it to him.
"It's been an adjustment for all of us. I have to get used to working long hours again." She glanced at her smiling daughter, rubbing a hand over her small foot. "And we all have to get used to the fact that I'm not here all the time anymore."
Jim studied his daughter closely. "It's been difficult."
It wasn't a question.
Kate shifted her eyes back to her father. He knew her so well. Her mouth twitched at the knowledge.
"Yeah," she admitted softly after a moment. "Yeah, it has."
"And you feel guilty?"
She nodded and fixed her eyes on Lizzy who had a little hand plastered against her Grandpa's cheek.
"Yeah."
Jim let out a soft chuckle and shook his head, adjusting Lizzy in his arms. "You're just like your mother, you know that?" Her eyes snapped back to his, widening in surprise. "Too damn hard on yourself." His smile softened.
Kate felt a pair of arms encircle her waist. "See? I'm not the only one who believes that," Rick said, pressing a kiss against her cheek. He turned his attention to his father-in-law, stretching out a hand. "Hey, Jim. How are you?"
"Hey, Rick," Jim returned the greeting, taking the younger man's hand. "I'm well thanks. Especially when I get to see this little one." He tickled his granddaughter who erupted in a fit of shrieking giggles.
"I can't believe she's already a year old," Rick commented rather morosely, slinging an arm around Kate's shoulders.
"Yeah, they grow up too fast," Jim said, his eyes still on Lizzy. "Believe me, I know."
"Hey, Dad," Kate greeted, hugging her father closely. He noticed her large, beaming smile, the way that joy seemed to radiate out of every pore of her skin. She was happy. And his heart wanted to burst open with gratitude for that. For so very long his daughter wandered around like a ghost, stumbled in the shadow of their tragedy. Now, she was living a full, complete life.
And Jim Beckett was convinced that it had everything to do with the man standing in front of him, wearing a twin large, beaming smile. He wondered briefly what-
Ah.
He must have asked her.
The older man's mouth curved upwards.
"Rick, hi." He clasped the younger man's hand tightly and patted him on the back, ushering him inside. "How are you?"
"Good. More than good actually," Kate said, the words bubbling out of her mouth. She was bouncing on her feet and twining her hands, seemingly very excited about something. It reminded him of when she was a little girl.
Adorable.
Jim's smile grew as he watched his daughter and the lovestruck man looking her with such tender affection.
"Oh and why's that, Katie?" He asked, the smile seeping into his tone. He gestured for them to sit. He watched on in amusement as the two lovebirds glanced at each other, a silent conversation going on. Finally, Kate turned her gaze back to her father, her hand finding Rick's.
"Dad," she started, her lips parting in a grin. "We're getting married."
Jim smiled and nodded. "I know."
Immediately his daughter's smile fell as Rick burst out laughing. "You know?" She inquired, sounding put out and suddenly very disappointed. "But how-" Her expression sobered and she cut her eyes towards Rick. "You asked for his permission?" Her voice was soft, a little awed.
The younger man shrugged and offered a lopsided smile. "Of course I did." He briefly glanced at Jim. "That's what I'm supposed to do, right?"
Kate bit her lip, her eyes struggling to contain their glimmer. "I love you," she said softly, leaning in to brush her mouth against his, a hand at his jaw. The kiss lasted for several seconds and after a while Jim cleared his throat causing the two lovers to break apart slowly.
"Katie, I only agreed to let him marry you because I want grandbabies."
Kate barked out a surprised laughed. "Dad! That's not happening anytime soon!"
"I don't mind soon," Rick commented casually, sharing a wink with his future father-in-law.
Her head snapped in his direction. "Uh, we've only been engaged for like two days, Castle. And by the way, I don't feel comfortable having this conversation in front of my father." Jim laughed and got up from his seat, making his way to the kitchen. Once her father was out of the room, Kate flashed her lover a dirty, dangerous grin.
"Besides, I want to have you all to myself for the first few years." She leaned in, her cheek against his, her mouth at his ear. "On. Every. Surface."
"Okay, time for the birthday cake!" Kate announced with a wide, beaming grin while carrying the large Micky Mouse-inspired birthday-cake. Lizzy was bouncing excitedly in her grandmother's arms, clapping her tiny hands and giggling like crazy. She was now wearing her cute lady-bug smock dress – red with large black polka dots – complete with the wings and feelers on top of her head.
Utterly adorable.
Daddy, of course, was taking all the credit for buying the outfit. Mommy rolled her eyes and reminded Daddy that she was the one to dress their daughter that morning.
"Come on, Kiddo, let's go make you wish," Martha said before kissing her granddaughter's cheek with a red-lipstick smack, making the little girl giggle even more.
"Dad, do you have the camera ready?" Alexis inquired.
"Yeah, it's rolling."
The chorus of happy birthday rang out and Kate blew out the single candle on Lizzy's cake, the little girl squirming excitedly in her booster seat and reaching her hands out towards the Micky Mouse-inspired cake.
Kate looked up at her husband; mouth sliding open into a radiating smile, delight singing in her eyes.
Gorgeous.
His breath hitched. She was just beautiful; glowing, unguarded and carefree in this moment. So very different from the hard-boiled, no-nonsense, power-suit wearing detective he met those many years ago. She was stunning and hot and all kinds of sexy back then and he was immediately in lust and intrigued of course. But now, dressed in a white floral summer dress (very feminine and un-Beckett-like) and laughing at him like that with her tongue caught in between her teeth - happy and in love - she was gorgeous. He wanted to kiss her, taste the joy in the curve of her mouth, bathe in her beauty.
Share their love.
"Did you get that?" Kate asked, walking towards him; her dark eyes sparkling.
He returned a grin. "Sure did, babe."
"Good. I want to watch it tonight," she said, wrapping an arm around his waist, pressing herself against his body. He pulled her closer and placed a kiss against her temple, nuzzling her hair.
"Our baby is a year old," Kate said after a few moments as they watched their daughter getting icing smeared all over her face and little hands thanks to Grandpa and Grandma's efforts.
He sighed. "Yeah. It went by quickly."
"Too quickly," Kate muttered.
Rick glanced down at her, his brow furrowing and amusement ghosting over his mouth. "It's not like she's moving out tomorrow, love."
She sighed again. "I know." Kate lifted her head from his shoulder, glancing up at her husband. "It's just," she started, pursing her lips. "She's growing up so fast and changing everyday. I don't want to miss anything "
He smiled, softness lining the curve of his lips. "You're not going to miss anything."
Before they could continue the conversation, Alexis called out to them.
"Come one, guys! Time for presents." Both Rick and Kate laughed at the young woman's enthusiasm - she was seemingly more excited about the presents than her baby sister.
"So. How many do you want?"
Kate glanced up at her fiancée. "How many of what, Castle?" She asked, lifting the glass of wine to her mouth. They were back at the loft after visiting her father and sharing the news of their engagement.
"Kids," he answered simply.
She nearly choked to death.
After coughing a lung out, Kate finally responded; caught off guard and completely incredulous. "W-what?"
"We're going to have to talk about it eventually. And I was just wondering since your dad mentioned it this afternoon." He grinned at her. "I don't have a number by the way. I would have a whole football team with you if that's what you want."
Ah, that was sweet. In a weird Castle-like way.
She laughed nervously and carefully placed the glass of wine on the coffee table. "Uh, I- I haven't thought about it yet, Rick." She rubbed her forehead and glanced at him, a small smile playing on the edge of her lips. "Of course one day I would like to you know... have a baby, become a mother," she said quietly. "How many? I don't know. All I know is that I want that with you. I want a family with you."
Rick smiled, his eyes warm and affectionate. "I want that with you too," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
He kissed her, his large hands cradling her face, fingers dancing over her cheeks. Her lips unlocked under his, allowing him entrance into her mouth. She nipped at his lower lip and slid her tongue past his teeth to explore the wet, delicious cave of his mouth. Her sanctuary. He groaned, the sound echoing off her matching moans. He gripped her thigh and waist and lifted her up into his lap into a straddling position, mouth and tongue hot against her jaw.
"I want you to be happy. So very much, Kate. You deserve to be happy," he breathed against her skin, his voice gruff.
"You make me happy." She panted, her mouth against his ear while her hands fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. "I want you. You're all I want right now." She undulated on top of him, her hips pressing intimately against his.
He gasped and gripped her tighter, his mouth at her collarbone, the words leaping out of his heart.
"God, I love you so much."
"She's completely in love with it."
"Yeah, I knew she would be."
"She's not gonna get off it, is she?"
He laughed and shook his head. "Well, no. I tried to pick her up earlier and she kinda freaked out," he said. "Look. She's half-way asleep on it already."
Lizzy was sprawled out on top of her white and pink rocking pony - still in her Lady Bug outfit - and fading fast. It was past her bedtime and after an eventful and exciting day, the little girl was exhausted.
But she was holding on to the toy like the little trooper she was.
Kate smiled and stepped towards her daughter who was regarding her with sluggish, sleepy eyes.
"Come on, baby girl. Time to get you to bed." Kate scooped up the little girl and despite the whiny and tired protests she received (so much like Daddy), Lizzy dropped her head onto Kate's shoulder and twined her small baby fingers around a strand of her mother's hair.
"Say goodnight to Daddy."
"Night Sweet Pea," Rick murmured, brushing a large hand gently over her small skull and planted a kiss against her forehead. "Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite." He trailed a finger over Lizzy's chubby cheek before blowing a raspberry in her neck, surprising her and making the little girl giggle.
Kate carried their baby girl upstairs, softly singing to her as she did so many times to get her to sleep while her thoughts drifted back to the first day after her daughter's birth.
Tiny. She was tiny. And just so, so beautiful. Perfect with all ten fingers and all ten toes.
Kate brushed a finger over the soft, dark hair on top of her baby's head, leaning down to place yet another kiss against her forehead. Her little person. Their little person was finally here. They could finally see her, touch her, hold her.
"I love you," Kate whispered for the umpteenth time. It was just her and Lizzy; Daddy went home to change. Daddy. And now she was Mommy. Suddenly it hit her, squeezing the breath out of her lungs.
She was a mother.
The mother of this little squirming creature in her arms. She had to swallow past the lump in her throat again, had to blink through the tears again.
It felt surreal.
Kate barely noticed the nurses coming in and out of the room. Barely noticed the world around her. She was watching her daughter as she slept in her arms, small and vulnerable and completely dependent. It was scary and overwhelming and wonderful and beautiful.
Mostly overwhelming.
"It never stops you know."
Kate's head snapped up at her mother-in-law's soft intrusion. "Martha, hi," she greeted with a wide smile. "What never stops?"
The older woman came to stand beside the bed, gently touching her granddaughter's cheek.
"This feeling," Martha answered, her eyes fixed on Lizzy. She lifted her eyes to Kate, her gaze tender. "This feeling that you've never done anything better than this right here. The love you feel. It never stops. It just grows and grows and grows."
Kate nodded, her smile widening as she looked at the little girl again. She was completely in love already. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
"Yeah, it's a little overwhelming. I've never felt like this before."
Martha laughed softly. "I was mostly scared out of my mind. I would look down at that little face and wonder what the hell I was doing. Whether I was doing a good job or not."
"Oh, I don't think you did such a bad job, Mother," Rick said, waltzing in with a huge bouquet of flowers and what seemed like a hundred balloons. "I turned out pretty well."
"Yes, well, you turned out better than expected," the older woman conceded dryly, a smile playing on her lips.
He feigned indignation and shook his head. "Good to know you had faith in me, Mother. And in your parenting skills."
"Well, I tried."
"And did a fine job, Martha," Kate said. She turned towards her husband. "Hi, Daddy."
His smile softened, every expression growing gentle. "Hey." He pressed a kiss against his wife's cheek and lips. "How are my two girls?" He turned his attention to his baby girl, brushing a finger over her tiny fist.
"We're doing very well."
"That's good," he murmured, eyes on the little person in Kate's arms. Lizzy's eyes opened, sleepy and searching for the familiar voices, her little mouth opening and closing. "Hey Sweet Pea, hey baby girl." He touched his lips to the top of her head, to her cheek. "I love you." He cut his eyes to Kate.
"Mommy and Daddy love you."
She found him standing in front of his office window, seemingly absorbed by the glow of the city lights. Kate walked up to her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, planting a kiss against his shoulder blade. They stood in silence for a few moments.
"I thought you were writing."
He sighed and turned around, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against him.
"I got distracted," he answered on a laugh.
"By the lights?"
He shook his head. "No. Just couldn't stop thinking."
Kate turned to look at him. He was handsome; the strong line of his jaw, the slight stubble dusted over his cheeks and chin, the bright, blue of his eyes. So very, very handsome. Even after all these years, he could still make her heart beat faster, he could still get her off kilter.
She cleared her throat. "About what?"
A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes shifting to her. Kate. His wife. Beautiful in her floral summer dress, standing barefoot beside him, watching the city lights after putting their daughter to bed.
"You. Us. Our family."
She nodded and pursed her lips, the smile twinkling in her eyes and growing on her mouth.
"What about our family?" Her voice was a low rumble, moving like velvet, seeping fire into his veins and igniting the pounding of his heart.
So sexy.
"Just how much I love our family," he simply answered.
Kate turned to face him, a smile slowly parting her lips, affection dancing in her eyes. He cupped her cheek, his thumb dragging along the skin of her chin and jaw; his head lowering towards her.
"How much I love having a family with you."
Title and lyrics at the end is from the sweet (mushy) Trading Yesterday song, "Nothing but love".
"Hey Katie," Jim hugged his daughter with a large smile. His smile grew when he turned his attention to his granddaughter.
"And hello to the birthday girl! Hey sweetie," he cooed. The little girl giggled and held out her arms for her grandfather who happily scooped her up.
She had her grandpa wrapped around her finger and the two of them were as thick as thieves.
"How are you, Dad?" Kate asked over her shoulder, trying to dodge Ryan's two rascals running around her while being chased by Uncle Espo.
Jim briefly took his eyes off Lizzy to look at his daughter. "Uh, I'm well, thank you, sweetie. How have you been now that you're back at work?"
Kate sighed as they came to a stop at the kitchen counter, taking a moment to pour her father a class of soda and handing it to him.
"It's been an adjustment for all of us. I have to get used to working long hours again." She glanced at her smiling daughter, rubbing a hand over her small foot. "And we all have to get used to the fact that I'm not here all the time anymore."
Jim studied his daughter closely. "It's been difficult."
It wasn't a question.
Kate shifted her eyes back to her father. He knew her so well. Her mouth twitched at the knowledge.
"Yeah," she admitted softly after a moment. "Yeah, it has."
"And you feel guilty?"
She nodded and fixed her eyes on Lizzy who had a little hand plastered against her Grandpa's cheek.
"Yeah."
Jim let out a soft chuckle and shook his head, adjusting Lizzy in his arms. "You're just like your mother, you know that?" Her eyes snapped back to his, widening in surprise. "Too damn hard on yourself." His smile softened.
Kate felt a pair of arms encircle her waist. "See? I'm not the only one who believes that," Rick said, pressing a kiss against her cheek. He turned his attention to his father-in-law, stretching out a hand. "Hey, Jim. How are you?"
"Hey, Rick," Jim returned the greeting, taking the younger man's hand. "I'm well thanks. Especially when I get to see this little one." He tickled his granddaughter who erupted in a fit of shrieking giggles.
"I can't believe she's already a year old," Rick commented rather morosely, slinging an arm around Kate's shoulders.
"Yeah, they grow up too fast," Jim said, his eyes still on Lizzy. "Believe me, I know."
[][][]
And Jim Beckett was convinced that it had everything to do with the man standing in front of him, wearing a twin large, beaming smile. He wondered briefly what-
Ah.
He must have asked her.
The older man's mouth curved upwards.
"Rick, hi." He clasped the younger man's hand tightly and patted him on the back, ushering him inside. "How are you?"
"Good. More than good actually," Kate said, the words bubbling out of her mouth. She was bouncing on her feet and twining her hands, seemingly very excited about something. It reminded him of when she was a little girl.
Adorable.
Jim's smile grew as he watched his daughter and the lovestruck man looking her with such tender affection.
"Oh and why's that, Katie?" He asked, the smile seeping into his tone. He gestured for them to sit. He watched on in amusement as the two lovebirds glanced at each other, a silent conversation going on. Finally, Kate turned her gaze back to her father, her hand finding Rick's.
"Dad," she started, her lips parting in a grin. "We're getting married."
Jim smiled and nodded. "I know."
Immediately his daughter's smile fell as Rick burst out laughing. "You know?" She inquired, sounding put out and suddenly very disappointed. "But how-" Her expression sobered and she cut her eyes towards Rick. "You asked for his permission?" Her voice was soft, a little awed.
The younger man shrugged and offered a lopsided smile. "Of course I did." He briefly glanced at Jim. "That's what I'm supposed to do, right?"
Kate bit her lip, her eyes struggling to contain their glimmer. "I love you," she said softly, leaning in to brush her mouth against his, a hand at his jaw. The kiss lasted for several seconds and after a while Jim cleared his throat causing the two lovers to break apart slowly.
"Katie, I only agreed to let him marry you because I want grandbabies."
Kate barked out a surprised laughed. "Dad! That's not happening anytime soon!"
"I don't mind soon," Rick commented casually, sharing a wink with his future father-in-law.
Her head snapped in his direction. "Uh, we've only been engaged for like two days, Castle. And by the way, I don't feel comfortable having this conversation in front of my father." Jim laughed and got up from his seat, making his way to the kitchen. Once her father was out of the room, Kate flashed her lover a dirty, dangerous grin.
"Besides, I want to have you all to myself for the first few years." She leaned in, her cheek against his, her mouth at his ear. "On. Every. Surface."
[][][]
"Okay, time for the birthday cake!" Kate announced with a wide, beaming grin while carrying the large Micky Mouse-inspired birthday-cake. Lizzy was bouncing excitedly in her grandmother's arms, clapping her tiny hands and giggling like crazy. She was now wearing her cute lady-bug smock dress – red with large black polka dots – complete with the wings and feelers on top of her head.
Utterly adorable.
Daddy, of course, was taking all the credit for buying the outfit. Mommy rolled her eyes and reminded Daddy that she was the one to dress their daughter that morning.
"Come on, Kiddo, let's go make you wish," Martha said before kissing her granddaughter's cheek with a red-lipstick smack, making the little girl giggle even more.
"Dad, do you have the camera ready?" Alexis inquired.
"Yeah, it's rolling."
The chorus of happy birthday rang out and Kate blew out the single candle on Lizzy's cake, the little girl squirming excitedly in her booster seat and reaching her hands out towards the Micky Mouse-inspired cake.
Kate looked up at her husband; mouth sliding open into a radiating smile, delight singing in her eyes.
Gorgeous.
His breath hitched. She was just beautiful; glowing, unguarded and carefree in this moment. So very different from the hard-boiled, no-nonsense, power-suit wearing detective he met those many years ago. She was stunning and hot and all kinds of sexy back then and he was immediately in lust and intrigued of course. But now, dressed in a white floral summer dress (very feminine and un-Beckett-like) and laughing at him like that with her tongue caught in between her teeth - happy and in love - she was gorgeous. He wanted to kiss her, taste the joy in the curve of her mouth, bathe in her beauty.
Share their love.
"Did you get that?" Kate asked, walking towards him; her dark eyes sparkling.
He returned a grin. "Sure did, babe."
"Good. I want to watch it tonight," she said, wrapping an arm around his waist, pressing herself against his body. He pulled her closer and placed a kiss against her temple, nuzzling her hair.
"Our baby is a year old," Kate said after a few moments as they watched their daughter getting icing smeared all over her face and little hands thanks to Grandpa and Grandma's efforts.
He sighed. "Yeah. It went by quickly."
"Too quickly," Kate muttered.
Rick glanced down at her, his brow furrowing and amusement ghosting over his mouth. "It's not like she's moving out tomorrow, love."
She sighed again. "I know." Kate lifted her head from his shoulder, glancing up at her husband. "It's just," she started, pursing her lips. "She's growing up so fast and changing everyday. I don't want to miss anything "
He smiled, softness lining the curve of his lips. "You're not going to miss anything."
Before they could continue the conversation, Alexis called out to them.
"Come one, guys! Time for presents." Both Rick and Kate laughed at the young woman's enthusiasm - she was seemingly more excited about the presents than her baby sister.
[][][]
Kate glanced up at her fiancée. "How many of what, Castle?" She asked, lifting the glass of wine to her mouth. They were back at the loft after visiting her father and sharing the news of their engagement.
"Kids," he answered simply.
She nearly choked to death.
After coughing a lung out, Kate finally responded; caught off guard and completely incredulous. "W-what?"
"We're going to have to talk about it eventually. And I was just wondering since your dad mentioned it this afternoon." He grinned at her. "I don't have a number by the way. I would have a whole football team with you if that's what you want."
Ah, that was sweet. In a weird Castle-like way.
She laughed nervously and carefully placed the glass of wine on the coffee table. "Uh, I- I haven't thought about it yet, Rick." She rubbed her forehead and glanced at him, a small smile playing on the edge of her lips. "Of course one day I would like to you know... have a baby, become a mother," she said quietly. "How many? I don't know. All I know is that I want that with you. I want a family with you."
Rick smiled, his eyes warm and affectionate. "I want that with you too," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
He kissed her, his large hands cradling her face, fingers dancing over her cheeks. Her lips unlocked under his, allowing him entrance into her mouth. She nipped at his lower lip and slid her tongue past his teeth to explore the wet, delicious cave of his mouth. Her sanctuary. He groaned, the sound echoing off her matching moans. He gripped her thigh and waist and lifted her up into his lap into a straddling position, mouth and tongue hot against her jaw.
"I want you to be happy. So very much, Kate. You deserve to be happy," he breathed against her skin, his voice gruff.
"You make me happy." She panted, her mouth against his ear while her hands fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. "I want you. You're all I want right now." She undulated on top of him, her hips pressing intimately against his.
He gasped and gripped her tighter, his mouth at her collarbone, the words leaping out of his heart.
"God, I love you so much."
[][][]
"Yeah, I knew she would be."
"She's not gonna get off it, is she?"
He laughed and shook his head. "Well, no. I tried to pick her up earlier and she kinda freaked out," he said. "Look. She's half-way asleep on it already."
Lizzy was sprawled out on top of her white and pink rocking pony - still in her Lady Bug outfit - and fading fast. It was past her bedtime and after an eventful and exciting day, the little girl was exhausted.
But she was holding on to the toy like the little trooper she was.
Kate smiled and stepped towards her daughter who was regarding her with sluggish, sleepy eyes.
"Come on, baby girl. Time to get you to bed." Kate scooped up the little girl and despite the whiny and tired protests she received (so much like Daddy), Lizzy dropped her head onto Kate's shoulder and twined her small baby fingers around a strand of her mother's hair.
"Say goodnight to Daddy."
"Night Sweet Pea," Rick murmured, brushing a large hand gently over her small skull and planted a kiss against her forehead. "Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite." He trailed a finger over Lizzy's chubby cheek before blowing a raspberry in her neck, surprising her and making the little girl giggle.
Kate carried their baby girl upstairs, softly singing to her as she did so many times to get her to sleep while her thoughts drifted back to the first day after her daughter's birth.
[][][]
Kate brushed a finger over the soft, dark hair on top of her baby's head, leaning down to place yet another kiss against her forehead. Her little person. Their little person was finally here. They could finally see her, touch her, hold her.
"I love you," Kate whispered for the umpteenth time. It was just her and Lizzy; Daddy went home to change. Daddy. And now she was Mommy. Suddenly it hit her, squeezing the breath out of her lungs.
She was a mother.
The mother of this little squirming creature in her arms. She had to swallow past the lump in her throat again, had to blink through the tears again.
It felt surreal.
Kate barely noticed the nurses coming in and out of the room. Barely noticed the world around her. She was watching her daughter as she slept in her arms, small and vulnerable and completely dependent. It was scary and overwhelming and wonderful and beautiful.
Mostly overwhelming.
"It never stops you know."
Kate's head snapped up at her mother-in-law's soft intrusion. "Martha, hi," she greeted with a wide smile. "What never stops?"
The older woman came to stand beside the bed, gently touching her granddaughter's cheek.
"This feeling," Martha answered, her eyes fixed on Lizzy. She lifted her eyes to Kate, her gaze tender. "This feeling that you've never done anything better than this right here. The love you feel. It never stops. It just grows and grows and grows."
Kate nodded, her smile widening as she looked at the little girl again. She was completely in love already. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
"Yeah, it's a little overwhelming. I've never felt like this before."
Martha laughed softly. "I was mostly scared out of my mind. I would look down at that little face and wonder what the hell I was doing. Whether I was doing a good job or not."
"Oh, I don't think you did such a bad job, Mother," Rick said, waltzing in with a huge bouquet of flowers and what seemed like a hundred balloons. "I turned out pretty well."
"Yes, well, you turned out better than expected," the older woman conceded dryly, a smile playing on her lips.
He feigned indignation and shook his head. "Good to know you had faith in me, Mother. And in your parenting skills."
"Well, I tried."
"And did a fine job, Martha," Kate said. She turned towards her husband. "Hi, Daddy."
His smile softened, every expression growing gentle. "Hey." He pressed a kiss against his wife's cheek and lips. "How are my two girls?" He turned his attention to his baby girl, brushing a finger over her tiny fist.
"We're doing very well."
"That's good," he murmured, eyes on the little person in Kate's arms. Lizzy's eyes opened, sleepy and searching for the familiar voices, her little mouth opening and closing. "Hey Sweet Pea, hey baby girl." He touched his lips to the top of her head, to her cheek. "I love you." He cut his eyes to Kate.
"Mommy and Daddy love you."
[][][]
"I thought you were writing."
He sighed and turned around, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against him.
"I got distracted," he answered on a laugh.
"By the lights?"
He shook his head. "No. Just couldn't stop thinking."
Kate turned to look at him. He was handsome; the strong line of his jaw, the slight stubble dusted over his cheeks and chin, the bright, blue of his eyes. So very, very handsome. Even after all these years, he could still make her heart beat faster, he could still get her off kilter.
She cleared her throat. "About what?"
A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes shifting to her. Kate. His wife. Beautiful in her floral summer dress, standing barefoot beside him, watching the city lights after putting their daughter to bed.
"You. Us. Our family."
She nodded and pursed her lips, the smile twinkling in her eyes and growing on her mouth.
"What about our family?" Her voice was a low rumble, moving like velvet, seeping fire into his veins and igniting the pounding of his heart.
So sexy.
"Just how much I love our family," he simply answered.
Kate turned to face him, a smile slowly parting her lips, affection dancing in her eyes. He cupped her cheek, his thumb dragging along the skin of her chin and jaw; his head lowering towards her.
"How much I love having a family with you."
[][][]
A perfect day is everyday I'm spending my life with you
I can't explain how I fall in love with everything that you do
God sure must like me more than I ever knew
Cause I could never ask for more from love and life than you
[][][]
Title and lyrics at the end is from the sweet (mushy) Trading Yesterday song, "Nothing but love".
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