Fic: Family Ties Part 1/2
Title: Family Ties
Rating: pg-13
Characters: Helen Magnus, Will Zimmerman, Kate Freelander, Bigfoot, Henry Foss
Pairing: Kate/Will
Spoilers: None
Warnings: mild language, baby!fic
Summary: Will and Kate are going to have a kid. Eventually, Kate might even tell her mother. Scenes from a pregnancy. Season 3 AU
Notes: For the Beth_soprano for the inthefighting Secret Steno exchange. Beth wanted: " Baby fic. Not PN timeline please! Established relationship preferred; please no drama or extreme sappiness.
Edit (Prompt #4): Though non-established relationship would be great too. "
Soooo you get Babyfic! Hopefully it isn't too dramatic or Sappy. I tried to hit their snark but remain true to the situation's gravity (and potential for adorable) This is part one. Part two is incoming. BIG thanks to kgaleway for the extremely helpful suggestions and character sanity checks.
“Crap.”
Kate stared at the pink plus. “Crap,” she repeated, glaring at the little stick. “You’re not supposed to be positive.” The stick remained obstinately positive. “Be that way,” Kate growled, slipping it back into the little pouch. She grabbed the disk of pills out of the drawer and tucked it into her back pocket.
She pulled on a shirt and headed for Magnus’ office, trying to remain calm. This was...not good. She’d already checked her pills and she hadn’t missed any. Kate was religious about taking her birth control, and not only when she was getting some. For a minor inconvenience it made her cramps less horrid and she was one of the lucky ones that ended up with better skin out of the deal. Plus it was supposed to be healthier or something. If she was pulling false positives, well, that wasn’t good, right? No. Obviously not.
And it had to be a false positive, even if the web talked about feeling tired, aching breasts, being repulsed by odors, and being late. All of those things could have come from other reasons. Right?
“Fuck.”
Kate found Magnus in her office reading a thick stack of folders. She closed the door behind her then went back and locked it for good measure. Kate dropped into the chair across from Magnus and the auto-pilot began to falter.
“May I help you?” Magnus asked, lips twisted in a wry grin. She looked up from the folder.
“These things can be wrong, right?” Kate asked, holding up the uncooperative stick.
Magnus blinked then set the folder aside. “They can be if they’re old or left out too long. They can be read wrong as well.”
“Or I could have some kind of horrible cancerous hormonal imbalance?”
Magnus paused then nodded very slowly. “Something else could be wrong, yes. What are your symptoms?”
Kate rattled them off. It almost felt like someone else was saying everything she’d noticed. The killer in the bunch was the whole being a full week late thing. Kate was chemically regulated; it was part of the point of the damn things. A day? Maybe. Three days? No. A week? Never.
Magnus folded her hands in front of her.
“It’s not cancer, is it?” Kate preempted. Deep down, she’d known something was going on. She hadn’t wanted to think about it. After a week she couldn’t ignore it any longer and had taken the test. She could have had something really horrible. At least this was what she’d told herself, but...
“I’m afraid this appears to be a rather mundane, garden variety pregnancy. We’d need to do a blood test to be sure,” Magnus told her. There was too much humor in the other woman’s voice for Kate’s liking at the moment.
Scowling, she pulled out the disk and tossed it on the desk. “Fat lot of good those did.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and slumped back in her seat. She couldn’t process any thoughts beyond “this is not good.”
“Well,” Magnus offered, “They do say these aren’t one hundred percent effective.” At least she sounded more sympathetic this time.
“Hooray I found the fucking point zero, zero, zero, zero one percent.” Kate rubbed her face with one hand. How the hell was this going to work? She’d...Well, okay, she hadn’t exactly had plans. She’d have to make plans. Or something. And tell Will. Damnit.
“Kate?” Magnus asked tentatively.
Kate let her hands fall into her lap. “At least it’s not cancer?”
Magnus stood. “Let me run the blood test.”
An hour later they had a confirmed diagnosis and Magnus had given Kate some space to process. She knew she had options, Kate just didn’t particularly like any of them. Magnus pulled up the chair by Kate’s bedside, computer in hand. She settled down and began checking her email, letting Kate think, but obviously making herself available.
It was kinda nice having her just there, even if Kate didn’t really want to talk. Well, part of her did. Part of her wanted to run, far, far away. Screaming. The rest of her was still kind of stunned. She wasn’t used to feeling so conflicted. “Why do men make things so damned complicated.”
The corners of Magnus’ lips turned up. “They do tend to do that, don’t they. But it isn’t entirely his fault.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “I remember basic biology.” She also remembered she had no one to blame but herself. Damn rebellious ovaries.
“I’d be correct in guessing this wasn’t something you discussed at length then?”
Kate snorted. “No. I said I was on the pill, showed him the little disk and then the conversation was over.” They’d doubled up at first but then they’d stopped. The pills had been working. Had being the operative word.
Magnus nodded. “I’m reviewing data from the past month or so, trying to see if anything you were exposed to caused the failure.”
Kate sighed. “Thanks.” Not that it mattered now. At least she could avoid future mishaps.
Magnus returned her attention to her laptop. Kate stared at the far wall.
“The hell am I going to tell Will?”
It was a rhetorical question but Magnus answered anyway. “The truth is usually best. If you’ll forgive some unsolicited advice in the matter, It-...Honesty is best.”
Kate looked over at her. The Boss’ experience had been...complicated to say the least. Their circumstances were completely different, but there was something under the statement; pain, longing. Kate had lost her father, and that had sucked. People always talked about losing a child as being so much worse though.
“Would you do it again?” she blurted out.
Magnus’ expression twitched slightly but her answer was firm, sure, and immediate. “Yes. I absolutely would.”
“Even though it kinda sucked?”
Magnus smiled but her look was distant. “Even so. Ashley,” she paused, wearing that sad little strange smile she always wore when she spoke of her daughter. “Having Ashley, knowing her even for a short time was so wonderful I still don’t have the words to fully express it. My life is all the better because she was in it. She was my everything and if I had to choose, I’d do it again.”
Her tone of voice made Kate’s gut twist in uncomfortable ways that were probably hormone related. The emotions played like some kind of minor cord, many layers dissonant and unresolved. The metaphors were probably hormone related too. “Even if you knew it was going to end up the way it did?” Way not to be tactful.
“Yes. Perhaps it’s selfish, but yes.” Magnus surreptitiously wiped an eye. “I do have some regrets in my life, but Ashley will never be one.” Magnus’ smile grew into something more like a grin. “I think you would have liked one another.” She collected her computer and stood, preparing to make a tactical retreat. “I’ll continue to look into this. You, on the other hand, are suspended from missions until further notice. I’ll ask my Old Friend to take over some of your duties in the enclosures as well; there are certain bacterias and infections I’d rather you were not exposed to for the time being. I’ll tell him you’re sick.”
Kate frowned. “So what do I do? Should I take off my shoes and head to the kitchen?”
Magnus arched an eyebrow and Kate felt a little bad for snapping. “For now, take a nap and try to decide what you’ll tell Will and how you’d like to proceed. You have some time, but believe me, I know, it’s not as much as you think and it passes quickly.”
Kate nodded and Magnus turned to leave. “Hey!” Kate called, just as she was in the door. Magnus looked back. “Could I maybe do what you did?”
“What I did?”
“You put your kid on hold.”
“Ah,” Magnus nodded. Her fingers tapped on the case of her computer. “That’s an extremely risky option.”
“But it’s an option.”
Magnus nodded once, a shade reluctantly.
“Thanks.”
Kate decided to go back to her room, slip into something comfy and, well, once she got that far she’d figure out what to do next. She was tired but her mind wouldn’t slow down. She crawled into their bed and flipped on the TV, intending on losing herself in whatever bad movie she found first.
She couldn’t stop thinking though. How would Will react? Family was important to Will. He’d lost both of his parents and had been taken in by a really nice foster family he still kept in touch with, but would he want one of his own? She thought maybe, but this was sudden. Kate realized one hand had drifted down over her lower stomach and jerked it away.
Will would...He’d probably want it. He wouldn’t make her, but he’d want it. He’d probably go overboard with everything she thought, lips quirking into a small smile. Annoying but sweet at the same time. He’d be good at the whole parent thing. Unlike her.
His childhood hadn’t be easy, but he’d ended up with decent role models. Again, unlike her. Hell, Kate thought her family could probably out-dysfunctional Magus, Druitt and their kid. Kate hadn’t spoken with her mother in...Well, she’d stopped counting. God. Her mother. Kate groaned and sank into the pillows. There was exactly no part of that, or any related conversation, she wanted.
Crossing her arms, Kate glared at the tv, then at her stomach. Her body had rebelled against years of carefully regulated chemistry. Kate smirked to herself; of course she’d be the one to get herself into this mess. So how was she going to get out of it?
She could end it but that was the least appealing option. If she did it and kept it a secret, he might find out later and it would destroy him, destroy them. If they went through it together, they might survive as a couple or they might not. Kate felt ill thinking about it though. It would hurt Will, and despite her best efforts, he’d become her safe place. And she just didn’t like the idea. That was out.
Magnus could suspend it. Kate didn’t know the particulars, but it was possible. She’d done it with her own kid a hundred years ago, so doing it with Kate would be cake. It would delay things and she’d have time to plan and adjust to the idea. It could work. She could get on with her life for a little bit longer and she and Will could pick a good time. It’d be perfect.
Provided of course they didn’t get into a fight with any secret underground organizations or fringe science industrialists or zombie apocalypses or, hell, come out the worse in a fight with something large and fanged. Kate frowned. What if something happened to her? How would things play out then? What if Will died? He’d miss out. They’d miss out, which would suck. What if they lost power or Tesla and Hank accidentally blew up the power grid and fried everything.
So, suspension was a no. Which left having it and hoping she didn’t fuck up too badly. Kate didn’t exactly like that option either. She curled on her side. She'd suck as a parent and no one deserved that. Seems someone was stuck with it though. Maybe Will would be a natural and offset whatever blunders she made.
Will would be home soon.He’d know something was up. He was too damn observant and he knew her too well. Maybe he’d think of something else, though.
Kate woke to a light kiss on her shoulder. The TV was off and the air in the room was slightly damp. Will smiled at her from under the towel he was using to dry his hair. Another towel was wrapped low on his hips, his skin glistening slightly with water from the shower. Kate wanted to lick the line just above his hip. Damn, the man had no right to be so sexy. Will grinned at her, winking as he retreated into the bath room. He walked out again, this time naked.
Will wagged his eyebrows and set his hands on his hips. The smirk was a clear invitation to play if she wanted. Oh, she wanted. Maybe she could tire him out, buy herself more time to think. Maybe she could...make it to the bathroom before she lost her dinner.
Will held her hair and eventually found a hair tie. He left only when she’d finished being sick and he’d helped her off the bathroom floor. Kate rinsed her mouth out and washed her face while he went to put on some boxers.
Kate crawled into the bed, feeling wrung out. Will slid in behind her, kissing her shoulder then behind her ear. He rested the back of his hand on her forehead. “You okay?”
Kate shook her head then buried her face in his chest. Will held her close, simply waiting and expecting nothing. He rubbed small circles on her lower back and Kate sank into the embrace, exhausted. She felt fortunate too; Will was a good guy.
Sighing, she bit the bullet. “You know how birth control isn’t one-hundred percent effective?”
“Yea- What?” Will sat up in surprise, taking her with him. He looked at her intently, completely focused, trying to discern if she was saying what she really was saying. There was hope at the edges mixed with equal parts fear and concern. “Kate-”
She nodded and tried really hard not to cry because hormones were stupid. “Yeah. Magnus is trying to figure out what the hell happened.”
“Hey,” he pulled her into a tight hug. “You okay?”
“Completely freaked out doesn’t even begin to cover it.” She tried to make her hands stop clenching around his arm and the T-shirt he’d put on, but they seemed to have their own ideas. Just like the rest of her rebellious body. It was almost funny.
“Hey, I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure this out.” He brushed back her hair and kissed her face. “Are you feeling sick? When did you find out? How do- how do you feel?” He wasn’t really asking how she felt. It was cute. Kate touched the side of his face. He hadn’t shaved yet and it was a little rough under her fingers.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out.”
He wrapped his fingers around her hand and kissed her palm. “I love you and we’ll do whatever you want to do.”
Kate found herself smiling a little. “While I’m as pro-choice as the next con-artist for hire, I-” she shook her head. “I don’t like that idea for me right now.”
“No?” the question tumbled out, hope, surprise and excitement all at once.
Kate dropped her hands to her lap. “Well, I figure it beat some pretty high odds. Maybe I should give it a pass.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Seems kinda unfair otherwise.”
Will tangled her fingers with his own. “Might as well let it have a fair shot since it got this far?” he joked, but the light tone didn’t match the deep seriousness of his eyes.
“I like determination.” She sighed, “and it’s not like I’m getting any younger.” Which was also true. She was on the other side of thirty now. “I mea-” He stopped her with a kiss.
Hands pulled her against him, firm and resolute and perhaps a bit desperate. His lips were soft but intent, moving over her own. When they broke for air, he pulled her fully into his lap, enveloping her in a tight hug. Kate couldn’t think for a second, so she focused on breathing.
Will’s hands framed her face. “We’re having a baby?” He didn’t sound like he quite believed it, like he needed her to confirm it again. It was beyond adorable and even if it was also completely terrifying, well, it seemed a bit less scary when he was looking at her like that.
She smiled, just a little. “Yeah.”
He kissed her again and she felt like she might be crushed by the hug. When she was breathless, he began to leave small kisses on her face and neck. Finally he kissed the spot behind her ear then buried his face in her neck. “Thank you.”
Kate shivered. Maybe they’d make it through.
Magnus had warned her that “morning sickness” was a misnomer. She’d described what it was like. Reality sucked. Kate curled into a ball and waited for the damn crackers to digest. They helped but she had to endure. She glared at the dresser across the room.
Will bent into her view, looking at her sideways. "You okay?"
"Fuck my life."
He crouched on the floor and folded his arms on the edge of the bed. "Anything I can do?"
"Kill me?" she whined. She could whine. She was allowed to whine because this was like the worst seasickness and vertigo she'd ever had, combined. And she had a headache.
"Can't do that." He reached out and stroked her shoulder. "Want some water? Crackers?"
She shook her head.
"Sure?"
"Maybe some water?"
Will got up and came back with some water from the bathroom. Kate groaned and sat up. Slowly sipping the water helped. Will sat behind her and rubbed her back, which also helped. By the time she was finished with the water she almost felt human again. Will sat beside her and pulled her close.
"Feeling better?"
"Less suicidal."
Will chuckled. "Want to wander outside for a bit? Get some fresh air?"
"Maybe, I dunno."
There was a knock on the door. "Will? Kate?" It was Magnus.
"Come in."
Magnus took one look at Kate and her smile turned sympathetic. "Feeling ill?"
Kate sighed. "I'll live."
"It will get better."
"Meh. You need something?"
"Actually I wanted to offer something," she said, stepping into the room. "I wasn't sure if you'd wish to use it or what plans you had for buying furniture." She gestured and Biggie carried in a cradle. He nodded at them then quietly left.
"Magnus...Wow. That's-" Will had slid to his feet, probably as stunned as Kate felt. She stood as well.
Magnus wore that sad little smile and Kate knew exactly when this particular piece of furniture had last been used. Magnus drew her hand over the newly polished wood, caressing it. "I-," she paused then began again. "Its a bit old. An impulse buy I made long ago, you could say. It was in storage for quite some time before- before I used it. It's not the most modern thing-"
"It's beautiful," Kate interrupted. It was. The wood was stained a deep red and the new coat of polish had given it a warm luster. It was clearly hand-crafted and obviously a master work. The construction was solid and despite the age of the piece, it looked sturdy. Kate doubted Magnus would have offered something that was potentially dangerous. It wasn't exactly the style Kate might have chosen, it was perhaps a bit embellished, but it possessed a stately Victorian elegance. Magnus had kept it for her own daughter and with Ashley gone...Kate was floored and humbled by the offer.
Magnus smiled, eyes shining a bit. "I kept it. Hoping perhaps it would see use again." She swallowed, taking a moment. "I- I would very much like for it to be kept in the family. To see it put to good use again." She cleared her throat, becoming more businesslike. "But I will entirely understand if-"
Kate reached out and touched her arm. "Thank you." It seemed so inadequate somehow, but Kate didn't know what else to say.
Will came to her rescue. "Helen...Thank you. We'll take good care of it. When we're done you can have it back. Let someone else in the family use it, maybe."
It was odd to hear Will call Magnus by her first name and it took Kate back for a moment. It seemed to have an effect on the older woman as well. Magnus nodded, smiling at them both and there were many emotions in her eyes; pain and hope above all. There was a tight feeling in Kate's chest and she wondered if she'd burst out crying in a minute and if Magnus would join her. It was surreal. Not entirely bad, but very strange.
Magnus stepped back as if physically distancing herself from the emotions in the room. She nodded again. "I have some things to go over," she said, calm and scientific detachment sliding into place around her like a well worn coat. "Kate if you continue to feel ill, I have some herbal tea that might help." She stepped back toward the door.
"Thank you," Kate said again, following a half step after her. It still seemed like so little, but she meant it.
Magnus smiled and left.
Kate let out a long breath, echoed by Will. "That was-"
"Yeah," Will half-laughed. He rested rested his hands on the cradle. "Wow."
"Screw godmother. She's the Kidlet's new grandmother," Kate decided. She didn't have much, but she could give that at least. "We're adopting her." Well, technically she supposed they'd already been adopted by her, but whatever. Details.
"Yeah?"
Kate arched an eyebrow at him. Will held up both hands, easily surrendering. "Not sure Magnus would like being called "Grandma", though."
Kate smirked. "Grandma Helen looks damn good for a hundred and fifty-nine. She can deal."
"So?"
"Nice to see you too, Hank."
"Come on, you found out right?"
"I'm having a great day, thanks for asking." Kate drawled.
Henry trotted after them down the hall. He reminded Kate of a overgrown puppy when he was excited like this. Way fun to tease too. "Aw come on! You're going to keep it a secret?"
Will sighed and snagged Kate's hand, tugging on it. "You know he's not going to let it go until he knows."
Kate rolled her eyes and paused, just to tweak Henry a bit more before finally relenting. "Fine, fine. Go ahead." She made a dismissive little wave. The brilliant grin he gave her made her chest constrict a little. Will had really wanted to be the one to tell his best friend. He'd busted out the huge eyes and the lip and she'd given in. Damn hormones.
Will squeezed her hand. "It's a boy!"
"Dude! that's awesome!" Henry said, tugging Will into a hug and slapping him on the back.
Henry grabbed her for a hug too. "Ah! Hey! Off!" Kate said, swatting at him. Henry grinned at her but let go, slapping Will on the back again.
"That is so cool! Completely weird, but also really cool."
"Weird?" Will questioned.
Henry shrugged. "Well, yeah. You're the first people I've really known who, you know-"
"Are spawning?" Kate asked.
Henry chuckled. "Well yeah. It's a little weird. Totally cool, don't get me wrong, but it's different from how things have been, ya know?"
"So glad we could make your life more interesting," Kate said, tugging Will along and resuming their walk to the kitchen.
Henry followed after. Kate ignored the looks he and Will were exchanging.
"So what are you gonna name him?"
"We've known it's a boy for all of ten minutes," Will pointed out, voice dry.
"Yeah, but come on, you've had weeks to start thinking of names!" Henry enthused. He threw an arm around Will's shoulder. "You know," he mused and Kate could already see Will's eyes rolling, "Henry is an excellent name of a boy."
Kate rolled her eyes. "So you've mentioned."
"Hey, he'd get to be named after his completely awesome favorite uncle!"
"Favorite Uncle, huh?" Kate asked as she called for the elevator. "You know Biggie's already tossed his hat in for that title."
"I would be a way more awesome Uncle."
"Sure, sure," she said.
"I would!" Henry said. "Who wouldn't want an Uncle who builds awesome gadgets?"
"That is a good point," Will allowed, stroking an imaginary beard in thought. Kate snickered, shaking her head at their antics.
"You know what would be the best middle name ever?" Henry said as they entered the elevator.
"No, but I bet you're going to tell us anyway," Kate mused.
Henry held up his hands. "Hang on, just hang on. His middle name should be...Danger."
"Danger. As in Danger is his-"
"His middle name," Henry was grinning ear to ear as he nodded, "Yeah!"
"Thats-" Kate paused, thinking. She gave Henry an appraising look. "Okay, that's actually kinda cool. I'll give you that one."
Will looked at her, eyebrows skyrocketing up towards his hairline. God, catching him off guard was the best thing ever. "Danger. Seriously?"
"Why not?" Kate asked, shrugging a shoulder. "People are naming their kids stupid things like "Apple" and "Lemonjello" and "heaven" backwards-" She gagged for effect, because it was that dumb, "Why the hell can't Danger be the kid's middle name?"
"Danger. Huh." Will considered it, bemused.
"Something Danger Freelander. Totally awesome name."
"Freelander?" He looked over, frowning.
Kate frowned. "Well, yeah."
There was an awkward moment of silence.
"Yeah, so I'll see you guys later?" Henry said. He patted Will's shoulder. "Congrats again, buddy." Then he fled through the elevator doors before they were fully open.
"What?" Kate asked. She dropped his hand and left the elevator.
Will followed, catching up. "I-" he broke off, shaking his head. "Nothing." They hadn't discussed this. He'd probably assumed the kid would have his name, which annoyed her a little bit. It wasn't that she didn't like Will's or something, but she already had one and it was her kid too. Why couldn't they use hers? They continued down the hall, Will walking at her side
"My name's way cooler," she defended.
Will laughed a little but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It is great."
"You know," she smiled over at him, "You could just take my name." She was a full fifteen steps down the hall before he caught up with her. She looked up when he touched her elbow.
Will studied her for a moment before rolling his eyes. "You're messing with me, aren't you?"
"Yep." Kinda.
Will followed her into the kitchen and began to help her make lunch. She studied him out of the corner of her eye. He hadn't brought up the conversation in the elevator yet. Or the hall. She didn't know which one she didn't want to talk about more. Probably the hall. She'd said it before she'd thought about it. Maybe he wasn't ready to discuss it either. It wouldn't be so bad, making things more...permanent. Maybe. The idea was kinda scary, but less so than it would have been a few months ago. It was probably the hormones.
She could push the surname issue. He'd do what she asked since he'd already said and done as much. Kate had a complicated relationship with her family, but she liked her name; it gave her an edge. Most people didn't believe it was real, especially given what she did and how she looked. Her mother had never been particularly fond of it, but hadn't cared that much. Her grandmother had hated it, which was another point in its favor. Come to think of it, her grandmother probably would hate Magnus instantly; a pushy British woman who'd lived through and hell, almost represented, Imperialism? Damn, no wonder Kate liked her. Kate looked across the counter at Will. Her grandmother would hate him too. Kate grinned.
Will caught the look. "What?"
Kate smirked. "I was trying to decide who my grandmother would hate more- you or Magnus."
Will blanched. "Uh-"
"See on the one hand, you're a guy and grandma's kinda traditional. My cousin Priya came home from college with a girlfriend."
"Bad?"
"Epic. Thad had the audacity to be nice to them before they got out of town," she shook her head. "But on the other hand, you got me knocked up."
Will arched a brow. "Hey-"
Kate held up a hand. "It's my grandmother. She's a billion years old. It's always the guy's fault." If she was still alive. Kate was pretty sure she'd have heard if the old woman had finally shuffled off. She'd seemed lively enough when Kate had finally, reluctantly, gone to see her family in Mumbai. The meeting had been awkward and brief. Food had been good. Kate went to the pantry and dug around Biggie's spices, because curry chicken salad sounded really good.
Will rolled his eyes.
"But see, on the other hand? You're a doctor."
"Ph.D."
"Details." Kate waved his comment aside. "But you're also a white boy,"
"Uh-" Will stopped chopping veggies.
"But you're not British. She hates the Brits. It's a thing with her. The whole British Raj thing I think."
"So-"
"And you're not Pakistani! God, that was a mess. So there's this whole chunk of the family I've never met because when I was four my uncle married some Pakistani girl he went to school with. They're doctors in the UK someplace."
Kate looked up when Will's silence had gone one longer than usual. She wasn't sure what the little smile meant. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable. "What?"
"Nothing." Will shrugged, "That's the most you've ever said about your family, is all."
Kate returned her focus to lunch. "Not like I'm close. Just people I couldn't exactly escape before I was able to move out. Mom's side. Dad didn't really have any family." She focused on the chicken salad.
Will dumped the celery he'd been cutting into the bowel, then wrapped an arm around her waist. He kissed her temple, lingering for a moment. Kate caught his hand as he turned away, dragging him back. She hooked her fingers in his belt loops, pulling him close as she leaned up to kiss him properly. Will grinned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around her back. He rested his forehead against hers.
"So Henry's suggestion?" he prompted.
Kate smirked. "You think it's awesome."
Will shrugged a shoulder. "I don't like my middle name." He rubbed the back of his head. "And Henry's idea is pretty cool. Danger."
"Alright then. On to the first name. Nothing trendy." She grabbed her completed sandwich and headed for the table.
Will took his share of the food and followed, sitting beside her. "Complete agreement here."
"I don't want to name the kid after anyone we know, and no TV or movie characters."
"I'm okay with that," Will nodded. "No dead relatives either?"
Kate made a face. "No?"
Will smiled. "I'm okay with that. Any ideas?"
Kate frowned at her food. "I got nothing. You?" She saw something pass in his eyes and she grinned. "You've been thinking about this. Spill!"
Will blushed a little but shrugged. "Well I have a few."
"Go on," she prompted.
"Well, in no order, Matthew, Evan, Kiran, Nathaniel, Dave, Arnab-"
"Ugh. No. I have a cousin I hate named Arnab."
"Okay," Will chuckled. "Any of those sound interesting?"
Kate sat back and thought about it for a bit. "I dunno. I mean except for Arnab I don't mind any of those. Nate could be good."
"We could wait a see what he looks like?"
Kate snorted and gave him a dry look. "He's going to look like a Bollywood you."
Will laughed, hand snagging hers under the table. "With any luck he'll be a better dancer too."
"You're better when you're possessed, but I've seen worse." Kate squeezed his hand back then returned to the very important task of eating lunch.
"You know," Will said and Kate froze, not sure she was going to like what he was about to say. "You're going to have to tell your mother sometime."
Kate groaned. "I was hoping I could spring it on her at a better time."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe invite her to something important?" She sipped her water.
"Like what?"
Kate looked over at him. "High school graduation?" She took a bite of her sandwich. Will leaned back in his seat and laughed.
Concluded in part II
Rating: pg-13
Characters: Helen Magnus, Will Zimmerman, Kate Freelander, Bigfoot, Henry Foss
Pairing: Kate/Will
Spoilers: None
Warnings: mild language, baby!fic
Summary: Will and Kate are going to have a kid. Eventually, Kate might even tell her mother. Scenes from a pregnancy. Season 3 AU
Notes: For the Beth_soprano for the inthefighting Secret Steno exchange. Beth wanted: " Baby fic. Not PN timeline please! Established relationship preferred; please no drama or extreme sappiness.
Edit (Prompt #4): Though non-established relationship would be great too. "
Soooo you get Babyfic! Hopefully it isn't too dramatic or Sappy. I tried to hit their snark but remain true to the situation's gravity (and potential for adorable) This is part one. Part two is incoming. BIG thanks to kgaleway for the extremely helpful suggestions and character sanity checks.
“Crap.”
Kate stared at the pink plus. “Crap,” she repeated, glaring at the little stick. “You’re not supposed to be positive.” The stick remained obstinately positive. “Be that way,” Kate growled, slipping it back into the little pouch. She grabbed the disk of pills out of the drawer and tucked it into her back pocket.
She pulled on a shirt and headed for Magnus’ office, trying to remain calm. This was...not good. She’d already checked her pills and she hadn’t missed any. Kate was religious about taking her birth control, and not only when she was getting some. For a minor inconvenience it made her cramps less horrid and she was one of the lucky ones that ended up with better skin out of the deal. Plus it was supposed to be healthier or something. If she was pulling false positives, well, that wasn’t good, right? No. Obviously not.
And it had to be a false positive, even if the web talked about feeling tired, aching breasts, being repulsed by odors, and being late. All of those things could have come from other reasons. Right?
“Fuck.”
Kate found Magnus in her office reading a thick stack of folders. She closed the door behind her then went back and locked it for good measure. Kate dropped into the chair across from Magnus and the auto-pilot began to falter.
“May I help you?” Magnus asked, lips twisted in a wry grin. She looked up from the folder.
“These things can be wrong, right?” Kate asked, holding up the uncooperative stick.
Magnus blinked then set the folder aside. “They can be if they’re old or left out too long. They can be read wrong as well.”
“Or I could have some kind of horrible cancerous hormonal imbalance?”
Magnus paused then nodded very slowly. “Something else could be wrong, yes. What are your symptoms?”
Kate rattled them off. It almost felt like someone else was saying everything she’d noticed. The killer in the bunch was the whole being a full week late thing. Kate was chemically regulated; it was part of the point of the damn things. A day? Maybe. Three days? No. A week? Never.
Magnus folded her hands in front of her.
“It’s not cancer, is it?” Kate preempted. Deep down, she’d known something was going on. She hadn’t wanted to think about it. After a week she couldn’t ignore it any longer and had taken the test. She could have had something really horrible. At least this was what she’d told herself, but...
“I’m afraid this appears to be a rather mundane, garden variety pregnancy. We’d need to do a blood test to be sure,” Magnus told her. There was too much humor in the other woman’s voice for Kate’s liking at the moment.
Scowling, she pulled out the disk and tossed it on the desk. “Fat lot of good those did.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and slumped back in her seat. She couldn’t process any thoughts beyond “this is not good.”
“Well,” Magnus offered, “They do say these aren’t one hundred percent effective.” At least she sounded more sympathetic this time.
“Hooray I found the fucking point zero, zero, zero, zero one percent.” Kate rubbed her face with one hand. How the hell was this going to work? She’d...Well, okay, she hadn’t exactly had plans. She’d have to make plans. Or something. And tell Will. Damnit.
“Kate?” Magnus asked tentatively.
Kate let her hands fall into her lap. “At least it’s not cancer?”
Magnus stood. “Let me run the blood test.”
An hour later they had a confirmed diagnosis and Magnus had given Kate some space to process. She knew she had options, Kate just didn’t particularly like any of them. Magnus pulled up the chair by Kate’s bedside, computer in hand. She settled down and began checking her email, letting Kate think, but obviously making herself available.
It was kinda nice having her just there, even if Kate didn’t really want to talk. Well, part of her did. Part of her wanted to run, far, far away. Screaming. The rest of her was still kind of stunned. She wasn’t used to feeling so conflicted. “Why do men make things so damned complicated.”
The corners of Magnus’ lips turned up. “They do tend to do that, don’t they. But it isn’t entirely his fault.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “I remember basic biology.” She also remembered she had no one to blame but herself. Damn rebellious ovaries.
“I’d be correct in guessing this wasn’t something you discussed at length then?”
Kate snorted. “No. I said I was on the pill, showed him the little disk and then the conversation was over.” They’d doubled up at first but then they’d stopped. The pills had been working. Had being the operative word.
Magnus nodded. “I’m reviewing data from the past month or so, trying to see if anything you were exposed to caused the failure.”
Kate sighed. “Thanks.” Not that it mattered now. At least she could avoid future mishaps.
Magnus returned her attention to her laptop. Kate stared at the far wall.
“The hell am I going to tell Will?”
It was a rhetorical question but Magnus answered anyway. “The truth is usually best. If you’ll forgive some unsolicited advice in the matter, It-...Honesty is best.”
Kate looked over at her. The Boss’ experience had been...complicated to say the least. Their circumstances were completely different, but there was something under the statement; pain, longing. Kate had lost her father, and that had sucked. People always talked about losing a child as being so much worse though.
“Would you do it again?” she blurted out.
Magnus’ expression twitched slightly but her answer was firm, sure, and immediate. “Yes. I absolutely would.”
“Even though it kinda sucked?”
Magnus smiled but her look was distant. “Even so. Ashley,” she paused, wearing that sad little strange smile she always wore when she spoke of her daughter. “Having Ashley, knowing her even for a short time was so wonderful I still don’t have the words to fully express it. My life is all the better because she was in it. She was my everything and if I had to choose, I’d do it again.”
Her tone of voice made Kate’s gut twist in uncomfortable ways that were probably hormone related. The emotions played like some kind of minor cord, many layers dissonant and unresolved. The metaphors were probably hormone related too. “Even if you knew it was going to end up the way it did?” Way not to be tactful.
“Yes. Perhaps it’s selfish, but yes.” Magnus surreptitiously wiped an eye. “I do have some regrets in my life, but Ashley will never be one.” Magnus’ smile grew into something more like a grin. “I think you would have liked one another.” She collected her computer and stood, preparing to make a tactical retreat. “I’ll continue to look into this. You, on the other hand, are suspended from missions until further notice. I’ll ask my Old Friend to take over some of your duties in the enclosures as well; there are certain bacterias and infections I’d rather you were not exposed to for the time being. I’ll tell him you’re sick.”
Kate frowned. “So what do I do? Should I take off my shoes and head to the kitchen?”
Magnus arched an eyebrow and Kate felt a little bad for snapping. “For now, take a nap and try to decide what you’ll tell Will and how you’d like to proceed. You have some time, but believe me, I know, it’s not as much as you think and it passes quickly.”
Kate nodded and Magnus turned to leave. “Hey!” Kate called, just as she was in the door. Magnus looked back. “Could I maybe do what you did?”
“What I did?”
“You put your kid on hold.”
“Ah,” Magnus nodded. Her fingers tapped on the case of her computer. “That’s an extremely risky option.”
“But it’s an option.”
Magnus nodded once, a shade reluctantly.
“Thanks.”
Kate decided to go back to her room, slip into something comfy and, well, once she got that far she’d figure out what to do next. She was tired but her mind wouldn’t slow down. She crawled into their bed and flipped on the TV, intending on losing herself in whatever bad movie she found first.
She couldn’t stop thinking though. How would Will react? Family was important to Will. He’d lost both of his parents and had been taken in by a really nice foster family he still kept in touch with, but would he want one of his own? She thought maybe, but this was sudden. Kate realized one hand had drifted down over her lower stomach and jerked it away.
Will would...He’d probably want it. He wouldn’t make her, but he’d want it. He’d probably go overboard with everything she thought, lips quirking into a small smile. Annoying but sweet at the same time. He’d be good at the whole parent thing. Unlike her.
His childhood hadn’t be easy, but he’d ended up with decent role models. Again, unlike her. Hell, Kate thought her family could probably out-dysfunctional Magus, Druitt and their kid. Kate hadn’t spoken with her mother in...Well, she’d stopped counting. God. Her mother. Kate groaned and sank into the pillows. There was exactly no part of that, or any related conversation, she wanted.
Crossing her arms, Kate glared at the tv, then at her stomach. Her body had rebelled against years of carefully regulated chemistry. Kate smirked to herself; of course she’d be the one to get herself into this mess. So how was she going to get out of it?
She could end it but that was the least appealing option. If she did it and kept it a secret, he might find out later and it would destroy him, destroy them. If they went through it together, they might survive as a couple or they might not. Kate felt ill thinking about it though. It would hurt Will, and despite her best efforts, he’d become her safe place. And she just didn’t like the idea. That was out.
Magnus could suspend it. Kate didn’t know the particulars, but it was possible. She’d done it with her own kid a hundred years ago, so doing it with Kate would be cake. It would delay things and she’d have time to plan and adjust to the idea. It could work. She could get on with her life for a little bit longer and she and Will could pick a good time. It’d be perfect.
Provided of course they didn’t get into a fight with any secret underground organizations or fringe science industrialists or zombie apocalypses or, hell, come out the worse in a fight with something large and fanged. Kate frowned. What if something happened to her? How would things play out then? What if Will died? He’d miss out. They’d miss out, which would suck. What if they lost power or Tesla and Hank accidentally blew up the power grid and fried everything.
So, suspension was a no. Which left having it and hoping she didn’t fuck up too badly. Kate didn’t exactly like that option either. She curled on her side. She'd suck as a parent and no one deserved that. Seems someone was stuck with it though. Maybe Will would be a natural and offset whatever blunders she made.
Will would be home soon.He’d know something was up. He was too damn observant and he knew her too well. Maybe he’d think of something else, though.
Kate woke to a light kiss on her shoulder. The TV was off and the air in the room was slightly damp. Will smiled at her from under the towel he was using to dry his hair. Another towel was wrapped low on his hips, his skin glistening slightly with water from the shower. Kate wanted to lick the line just above his hip. Damn, the man had no right to be so sexy. Will grinned at her, winking as he retreated into the bath room. He walked out again, this time naked.
Will wagged his eyebrows and set his hands on his hips. The smirk was a clear invitation to play if she wanted. Oh, she wanted. Maybe she could tire him out, buy herself more time to think. Maybe she could...make it to the bathroom before she lost her dinner.
Will held her hair and eventually found a hair tie. He left only when she’d finished being sick and he’d helped her off the bathroom floor. Kate rinsed her mouth out and washed her face while he went to put on some boxers.
Kate crawled into the bed, feeling wrung out. Will slid in behind her, kissing her shoulder then behind her ear. He rested the back of his hand on her forehead. “You okay?”
Kate shook her head then buried her face in his chest. Will held her close, simply waiting and expecting nothing. He rubbed small circles on her lower back and Kate sank into the embrace, exhausted. She felt fortunate too; Will was a good guy.
Sighing, she bit the bullet. “You know how birth control isn’t one-hundred percent effective?”
“Yea- What?” Will sat up in surprise, taking her with him. He looked at her intently, completely focused, trying to discern if she was saying what she really was saying. There was hope at the edges mixed with equal parts fear and concern. “Kate-”
She nodded and tried really hard not to cry because hormones were stupid. “Yeah. Magnus is trying to figure out what the hell happened.”
“Hey,” he pulled her into a tight hug. “You okay?”
“Completely freaked out doesn’t even begin to cover it.” She tried to make her hands stop clenching around his arm and the T-shirt he’d put on, but they seemed to have their own ideas. Just like the rest of her rebellious body. It was almost funny.
“Hey, I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure this out.” He brushed back her hair and kissed her face. “Are you feeling sick? When did you find out? How do- how do you feel?” He wasn’t really asking how she felt. It was cute. Kate touched the side of his face. He hadn’t shaved yet and it was a little rough under her fingers.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out.”
He wrapped his fingers around her hand and kissed her palm. “I love you and we’ll do whatever you want to do.”
Kate found herself smiling a little. “While I’m as pro-choice as the next con-artist for hire, I-” she shook her head. “I don’t like that idea for me right now.”
“No?” the question tumbled out, hope, surprise and excitement all at once.
Kate dropped her hands to her lap. “Well, I figure it beat some pretty high odds. Maybe I should give it a pass.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Seems kinda unfair otherwise.”
Will tangled her fingers with his own. “Might as well let it have a fair shot since it got this far?” he joked, but the light tone didn’t match the deep seriousness of his eyes.
“I like determination.” She sighed, “and it’s not like I’m getting any younger.” Which was also true. She was on the other side of thirty now. “I mea-” He stopped her with a kiss.
Hands pulled her against him, firm and resolute and perhaps a bit desperate. His lips were soft but intent, moving over her own. When they broke for air, he pulled her fully into his lap, enveloping her in a tight hug. Kate couldn’t think for a second, so she focused on breathing.
Will’s hands framed her face. “We’re having a baby?” He didn’t sound like he quite believed it, like he needed her to confirm it again. It was beyond adorable and even if it was also completely terrifying, well, it seemed a bit less scary when he was looking at her like that.
She smiled, just a little. “Yeah.”
He kissed her again and she felt like she might be crushed by the hug. When she was breathless, he began to leave small kisses on her face and neck. Finally he kissed the spot behind her ear then buried his face in her neck. “Thank you.”
Kate shivered. Maybe they’d make it through.
Magnus had warned her that “morning sickness” was a misnomer. She’d described what it was like. Reality sucked. Kate curled into a ball and waited for the damn crackers to digest. They helped but she had to endure. She glared at the dresser across the room.
Will bent into her view, looking at her sideways. "You okay?"
"Fuck my life."
He crouched on the floor and folded his arms on the edge of the bed. "Anything I can do?"
"Kill me?" she whined. She could whine. She was allowed to whine because this was like the worst seasickness and vertigo she'd ever had, combined. And she had a headache.
"Can't do that." He reached out and stroked her shoulder. "Want some water? Crackers?"
She shook her head.
"Sure?"
"Maybe some water?"
Will got up and came back with some water from the bathroom. Kate groaned and sat up. Slowly sipping the water helped. Will sat behind her and rubbed her back, which also helped. By the time she was finished with the water she almost felt human again. Will sat beside her and pulled her close.
"Feeling better?"
"Less suicidal."
Will chuckled. "Want to wander outside for a bit? Get some fresh air?"
"Maybe, I dunno."
There was a knock on the door. "Will? Kate?" It was Magnus.
"Come in."
Magnus took one look at Kate and her smile turned sympathetic. "Feeling ill?"
Kate sighed. "I'll live."
"It will get better."
"Meh. You need something?"
"Actually I wanted to offer something," she said, stepping into the room. "I wasn't sure if you'd wish to use it or what plans you had for buying furniture." She gestured and Biggie carried in a cradle. He nodded at them then quietly left.
"Magnus...Wow. That's-" Will had slid to his feet, probably as stunned as Kate felt. She stood as well.
Magnus wore that sad little smile and Kate knew exactly when this particular piece of furniture had last been used. Magnus drew her hand over the newly polished wood, caressing it. "I-," she paused then began again. "Its a bit old. An impulse buy I made long ago, you could say. It was in storage for quite some time before- before I used it. It's not the most modern thing-"
"It's beautiful," Kate interrupted. It was. The wood was stained a deep red and the new coat of polish had given it a warm luster. It was clearly hand-crafted and obviously a master work. The construction was solid and despite the age of the piece, it looked sturdy. Kate doubted Magnus would have offered something that was potentially dangerous. It wasn't exactly the style Kate might have chosen, it was perhaps a bit embellished, but it possessed a stately Victorian elegance. Magnus had kept it for her own daughter and with Ashley gone...Kate was floored and humbled by the offer.
Magnus smiled, eyes shining a bit. "I kept it. Hoping perhaps it would see use again." She swallowed, taking a moment. "I- I would very much like for it to be kept in the family. To see it put to good use again." She cleared her throat, becoming more businesslike. "But I will entirely understand if-"
Kate reached out and touched her arm. "Thank you." It seemed so inadequate somehow, but Kate didn't know what else to say.
Will came to her rescue. "Helen...Thank you. We'll take good care of it. When we're done you can have it back. Let someone else in the family use it, maybe."
It was odd to hear Will call Magnus by her first name and it took Kate back for a moment. It seemed to have an effect on the older woman as well. Magnus nodded, smiling at them both and there were many emotions in her eyes; pain and hope above all. There was a tight feeling in Kate's chest and she wondered if she'd burst out crying in a minute and if Magnus would join her. It was surreal. Not entirely bad, but very strange.
Magnus stepped back as if physically distancing herself from the emotions in the room. She nodded again. "I have some things to go over," she said, calm and scientific detachment sliding into place around her like a well worn coat. "Kate if you continue to feel ill, I have some herbal tea that might help." She stepped back toward the door.
"Thank you," Kate said again, following a half step after her. It still seemed like so little, but she meant it.
Magnus smiled and left.
Kate let out a long breath, echoed by Will. "That was-"
"Yeah," Will half-laughed. He rested rested his hands on the cradle. "Wow."
"Screw godmother. She's the Kidlet's new grandmother," Kate decided. She didn't have much, but she could give that at least. "We're adopting her." Well, technically she supposed they'd already been adopted by her, but whatever. Details.
"Yeah?"
Kate arched an eyebrow at him. Will held up both hands, easily surrendering. "Not sure Magnus would like being called "Grandma", though."
Kate smirked. "Grandma Helen looks damn good for a hundred and fifty-nine. She can deal."
"So?"
"Nice to see you too, Hank."
"Come on, you found out right?"
"I'm having a great day, thanks for asking." Kate drawled.
Henry trotted after them down the hall. He reminded Kate of a overgrown puppy when he was excited like this. Way fun to tease too. "Aw come on! You're going to keep it a secret?"
Will sighed and snagged Kate's hand, tugging on it. "You know he's not going to let it go until he knows."
Kate rolled her eyes and paused, just to tweak Henry a bit more before finally relenting. "Fine, fine. Go ahead." She made a dismissive little wave. The brilliant grin he gave her made her chest constrict a little. Will had really wanted to be the one to tell his best friend. He'd busted out the huge eyes and the lip and she'd given in. Damn hormones.
Will squeezed her hand. "It's a boy!"
"Dude! that's awesome!" Henry said, tugging Will into a hug and slapping him on the back.
Henry grabbed her for a hug too. "Ah! Hey! Off!" Kate said, swatting at him. Henry grinned at her but let go, slapping Will on the back again.
"That is so cool! Completely weird, but also really cool."
"Weird?" Will questioned.
Henry shrugged. "Well, yeah. You're the first people I've really known who, you know-"
"Are spawning?" Kate asked.
Henry chuckled. "Well yeah. It's a little weird. Totally cool, don't get me wrong, but it's different from how things have been, ya know?"
"So glad we could make your life more interesting," Kate said, tugging Will along and resuming their walk to the kitchen.
Henry followed after. Kate ignored the looks he and Will were exchanging.
"So what are you gonna name him?"
"We've known it's a boy for all of ten minutes," Will pointed out, voice dry.
"Yeah, but come on, you've had weeks to start thinking of names!" Henry enthused. He threw an arm around Will's shoulder. "You know," he mused and Kate could already see Will's eyes rolling, "Henry is an excellent name of a boy."
Kate rolled her eyes. "So you've mentioned."
"Hey, he'd get to be named after his completely awesome favorite uncle!"
"Favorite Uncle, huh?" Kate asked as she called for the elevator. "You know Biggie's already tossed his hat in for that title."
"I would be a way more awesome Uncle."
"Sure, sure," she said.
"I would!" Henry said. "Who wouldn't want an Uncle who builds awesome gadgets?"
"That is a good point," Will allowed, stroking an imaginary beard in thought. Kate snickered, shaking her head at their antics.
"You know what would be the best middle name ever?" Henry said as they entered the elevator.
"No, but I bet you're going to tell us anyway," Kate mused.
Henry held up his hands. "Hang on, just hang on. His middle name should be...Danger."
"Danger. As in Danger is his-"
"His middle name," Henry was grinning ear to ear as he nodded, "Yeah!"
"Thats-" Kate paused, thinking. She gave Henry an appraising look. "Okay, that's actually kinda cool. I'll give you that one."
Will looked at her, eyebrows skyrocketing up towards his hairline. God, catching him off guard was the best thing ever. "Danger. Seriously?"
"Why not?" Kate asked, shrugging a shoulder. "People are naming their kids stupid things like "Apple" and "Lemonjello" and "heaven" backwards-" She gagged for effect, because it was that dumb, "Why the hell can't Danger be the kid's middle name?"
"Danger. Huh." Will considered it, bemused.
"Something Danger Freelander. Totally awesome name."
"Freelander?" He looked over, frowning.
Kate frowned. "Well, yeah."
There was an awkward moment of silence.
"Yeah, so I'll see you guys later?" Henry said. He patted Will's shoulder. "Congrats again, buddy." Then he fled through the elevator doors before they were fully open.
"What?" Kate asked. She dropped his hand and left the elevator.
Will followed, catching up. "I-" he broke off, shaking his head. "Nothing." They hadn't discussed this. He'd probably assumed the kid would have his name, which annoyed her a little bit. It wasn't that she didn't like Will's or something, but she already had one and it was her kid too. Why couldn't they use hers? They continued down the hall, Will walking at her side
"My name's way cooler," she defended.
Will laughed a little but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It is great."
"You know," she smiled over at him, "You could just take my name." She was a full fifteen steps down the hall before he caught up with her. She looked up when he touched her elbow.
Will studied her for a moment before rolling his eyes. "You're messing with me, aren't you?"
"Yep." Kinda.
Will followed her into the kitchen and began to help her make lunch. She studied him out of the corner of her eye. He hadn't brought up the conversation in the elevator yet. Or the hall. She didn't know which one she didn't want to talk about more. Probably the hall. She'd said it before she'd thought about it. Maybe he wasn't ready to discuss it either. It wouldn't be so bad, making things more...permanent. Maybe. The idea was kinda scary, but less so than it would have been a few months ago. It was probably the hormones.
She could push the surname issue. He'd do what she asked since he'd already said and done as much. Kate had a complicated relationship with her family, but she liked her name; it gave her an edge. Most people didn't believe it was real, especially given what she did and how she looked. Her mother had never been particularly fond of it, but hadn't cared that much. Her grandmother had hated it, which was another point in its favor. Come to think of it, her grandmother probably would hate Magnus instantly; a pushy British woman who'd lived through and hell, almost represented, Imperialism? Damn, no wonder Kate liked her. Kate looked across the counter at Will. Her grandmother would hate him too. Kate grinned.
Will caught the look. "What?"
Kate smirked. "I was trying to decide who my grandmother would hate more- you or Magnus."
Will blanched. "Uh-"
"See on the one hand, you're a guy and grandma's kinda traditional. My cousin Priya came home from college with a girlfriend."
"Bad?"
"Epic. Thad had the audacity to be nice to them before they got out of town," she shook her head. "But on the other hand, you got me knocked up."
Will arched a brow. "Hey-"
Kate held up a hand. "It's my grandmother. She's a billion years old. It's always the guy's fault." If she was still alive. Kate was pretty sure she'd have heard if the old woman had finally shuffled off. She'd seemed lively enough when Kate had finally, reluctantly, gone to see her family in Mumbai. The meeting had been awkward and brief. Food had been good. Kate went to the pantry and dug around Biggie's spices, because curry chicken salad sounded really good.
Will rolled his eyes.
"But see, on the other hand? You're a doctor."
"Ph.D."
"Details." Kate waved his comment aside. "But you're also a white boy,"
"Uh-" Will stopped chopping veggies.
"But you're not British. She hates the Brits. It's a thing with her. The whole British Raj thing I think."
"So-"
"And you're not Pakistani! God, that was a mess. So there's this whole chunk of the family I've never met because when I was four my uncle married some Pakistani girl he went to school with. They're doctors in the UK someplace."
Kate looked up when Will's silence had gone one longer than usual. She wasn't sure what the little smile meant. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable. "What?"
"Nothing." Will shrugged, "That's the most you've ever said about your family, is all."
Kate returned her focus to lunch. "Not like I'm close. Just people I couldn't exactly escape before I was able to move out. Mom's side. Dad didn't really have any family." She focused on the chicken salad.
Will dumped the celery he'd been cutting into the bowel, then wrapped an arm around her waist. He kissed her temple, lingering for a moment. Kate caught his hand as he turned away, dragging him back. She hooked her fingers in his belt loops, pulling him close as she leaned up to kiss him properly. Will grinned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around her back. He rested his forehead against hers.
"So Henry's suggestion?" he prompted.
Kate smirked. "You think it's awesome."
Will shrugged a shoulder. "I don't like my middle name." He rubbed the back of his head. "And Henry's idea is pretty cool. Danger."
"Alright then. On to the first name. Nothing trendy." She grabbed her completed sandwich and headed for the table.
Will took his share of the food and followed, sitting beside her. "Complete agreement here."
"I don't want to name the kid after anyone we know, and no TV or movie characters."
"I'm okay with that," Will nodded. "No dead relatives either?"
Kate made a face. "No?"
Will smiled. "I'm okay with that. Any ideas?"
Kate frowned at her food. "I got nothing. You?" She saw something pass in his eyes and she grinned. "You've been thinking about this. Spill!"
Will blushed a little but shrugged. "Well I have a few."
"Go on," she prompted.
"Well, in no order, Matthew, Evan, Kiran, Nathaniel, Dave, Arnab-"
"Ugh. No. I have a cousin I hate named Arnab."
"Okay," Will chuckled. "Any of those sound interesting?"
Kate sat back and thought about it for a bit. "I dunno. I mean except for Arnab I don't mind any of those. Nate could be good."
"We could wait a see what he looks like?"
Kate snorted and gave him a dry look. "He's going to look like a Bollywood you."
Will laughed, hand snagging hers under the table. "With any luck he'll be a better dancer too."
"You're better when you're possessed, but I've seen worse." Kate squeezed his hand back then returned to the very important task of eating lunch.
"You know," Will said and Kate froze, not sure she was going to like what he was about to say. "You're going to have to tell your mother sometime."
Kate groaned. "I was hoping I could spring it on her at a better time."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe invite her to something important?" She sipped her water.
"Like what?"
Kate looked over at him. "High school graduation?" She took a bite of her sandwich. Will leaned back in his seat and laughed.
Concluded in part II