December 19th 2013.
07:15am.

The sound of Kate's laughter in the kitchen was the first thing Fredo heard when he stepped in through the door. He smiled as he leisurely walked into the house. Fredo felt oddly nervous as he neared the kitchen door.

He smoothed the creases in his shirt,combed his fingers through his hair to make it a bit smooth,then walked in in time to hear Kate's question.

"What would you think if your daddy got married again?"

Fredo froze on the threshold and watched as Kelsia contemplated the question. The pair weren't aware of his arrival yet. Kelsia was dressed for school in her navy blue pleated skirt and matching lace button down blouse. Her white stockings peeked from underneath her skirt. The black buckle shoe on her feet looked shiny and so clean that Fredo instantly knew that Kate was the one who cleaned it. Kelsia perched on one of the stool,watching Kate work.

Kate was wearing one of the jeans he bought for her yesterday,which displayed enough curves to make his pulse quicken, and a red sweatshirt embellished with minions.

It looked like Kate was making peanut butter sandwiches.

"I would have a mommy then?" Kelsia finally replied.

Kate raised an eyebrow playfully,in a way that he found it sexy. "Yes." She placed a plate with two sandwiches in it in front of Kelsia. "What I want to know is how you'd feel about it."

"I'd like it." Kelsia nodded as she reached for a sandwich.

"Maybe you should ask what I think of that," Fredo interjected.

Kate turned and flushed,her guilty reaction making Fredo wonder why she was asking such a question in the first place. Her eyes met his and danced away,her blush deepening as the minutes progressed.

Did she recall what happened last night? Fredo's pulse quickened as he watched her fidget. Was she regretting it?

"We're having peanut butter sandwiches!" Kelsia informed him with a smile, oblivious to what was happening between the two adults.

"Your favourite."

Kelsia giggled and nodded. Fredo's breath caught at the sound. He looked at Kate, who smiled at him in encouragement, which made him feel suddenly younger and giddy.

Then Kate bit her lower lip. "I'm not really good with cooking. Our maid... I meant that while I stayed on the street,there was a house... A maid-"

"I understand." Even though he didn't.

Kate let out a breath. "Is it good for breakfast?"

"No." Fredo saw Kelsia's face fall in disappointment. He surprised the three of them by crossing the room to tousle Kelsia's hair. "But we can make an exception this morning, right sweetheart?"

Kelsia grinned as she bit into her sandwich. "Right. Kate likes them too."

Fredo had to ask. "For breakfast?"

Kate nodded, an enchanting smile curving her lips.

"Once in a while won't hurt anything," Fredo accepted the sandwich Kelsia offered him and bit into it. "Hmmm, you make the best sandwiches."

Kate looked self-consciously pleased. "It's not that hard..."

"Shh," he raised a finger to his lip. "Don't give away your secrets."

Kate not only smiled,she laughed out loud. Then winked at Kelsia. "Your father is teasing me."

A loud honk from outside had Kelsia scrambling down from the stool. "The bus is here."

Kate put a brown paper bag containing Sandwiches in Kelsia's bag before zipping it.

"Do your best at school today." Kate told her.

"Do your best today too. "Kelsia went to wash her hands,then wiped it on the towel. "Sugars?"

"You bet."

Fredo watched as Kate bent, at the waist ,until her face was leveled with Kelsia's. Kelsia planted a sticky  goodbye kiss on her face.

"Sugars for daddy?" Kate asked Kelsia who peeked up at him shyly while she danced from one foot to another.

At Kate's encouraging smile, Fredo mimicked Kate's move earlier and was rewarded with a wet smack kiss on his mouth.

"I'll walk you to the door." Kate brushed past Fredo with Kelsia at her heels but paused when he spoke up.

"I would be up in my room."

Their gazes held for a moment and there was no denying the message that was sent through their looks. Fredo wanted to grab Kate right there and kiss her senseless, but Kelsia's presence held him back. After sharing one last look filled with desire and unspoken promises, Fredo turned on his heels and went upstairs to his room.

What Fredo was not aware of was his daughter's gasp of delight- much less the little half-smile of anticipation she kept to herself.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Kate paced the length of her room weighing the reasons why she should and shouldn't go into Fredo's room right now and get naked with him. There were hundred reasons why she shouldn't and just only one reason why she should.

I want him more than life it self.

Yet she would be putting he and his daughter in danger by getting too attached to them.

Are you not? Whispered a small voice in her head.

"Ughh!" She pulled her hair in frustration. "What should I do?"

"Is everything alright?"

Kate bit back a scream at the sudden intrusion. She pivoted on her heels to see Fredo standing in the doorways, looking fresh and wet in his dark khaki shorts and yellow shirt which was opened at the neck giving her a glimpse of the skin underneath.

This time when their gaze met and held, she saw the weariness in them. Her desire was instantly forgotten.

"What happened?" She crossed the room to stand in front of him.

Fredo's shoulder slumped forward. "I lost one of my patient, a teenager, to surgery this morning."

"You feel as if you didn't do enough to save him." She stated,rather than ask.

He nodded.

Kate placed a hand on his bicep. "There are many ups and downs in this world Fredo, it all depends on how we deal with it. I know that you are a good doctor, because after all,you saved my life and let me stay instead of handing me over to the police or tossing me out.

"The teenager that died didn't die because you were incompetent, he died because it's his time to. I know this might sound a bit heartless to you,but God do not do anything without a reason. The teenagers death would have a reason."

"Matthew."

Kate's brows furrowed in confusion. "Matthew who?"

"That's his name. Matthew Keegan, he was the only child of his parents."

"Oh."

Reaching into his pocket,Fredo withdrew the note he had been carrying about with him and handed it over to her. Kate unfolded the paper and ran her gaze over it.

"He asked his mother to give me this after his surgery." Fredo watched her face for a reaction.

Kate smiled. "This Matthew is a really good kid." Her gaze met his. "He gave you this to let you know that no matter what the outcome may be, he appreciates your effort. See? Don't beat yourself up about it."

Fredo twirled a strand of her hair around his fingers. "Who are you Kate? And whatever have I done to deserve an angel like you?"

"I am no Angel,Fredo." She said softly. "Just as I am a nobody. The question should be reversed,because I sure did nothing to deserve your hospitality and your daughter's."

Fredo's hand dropped to her face. He ran the knuckles of his index fingers down her cheeks. "You're wrong Katherine. I am the one who has done nothing to deserve you. Kelsia adores you totally and trusts every word you say."

Don't ask. Don't dare ask Kate.

She did anyway.

"And you?" Darn!

In answer to her question, Fredo dipped his head and kissed her. He nibbled on her lower lip,tracing it with his tongue until she parted her lips. His tongue swept inside.

Kate smiled against his mouth before she gave into the sensations and textures of learning his kiss,his taste, his rhythm.

With a groan, he pulled back a few moments later. "What are you smiling about?"

"I just got an answer to my own question. "

"And that is?"

"Yes. "With that, she looped her arms around his neck and tugged his head down for more.

His breath was uneven when he pulled away again. Fredo closed his eyes,his jaw working. He looked as if he was waging some internal battle.

Finally, he opened his eyes and asked, "so?"

Dazed, Kate tried to focus. "So what?"

"What next?"

Kate laughed, joy bubbling inside. "Let's get naked."