Chapter 9
"Momma?" Miah asked, peering into Kerry's room, watching Kerry crawl around on the floor, looking for an earring that had been swallowed by the carpet.
Kerry looked up from the floor and smiled at her daughter, "What's up, sweetpea?"
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to go out with Nick." Kerry went back to her search, fanning through the carpet with her fingers, hoping the earring would fly up for her to see.
"Again?" Miah said, obviously disappointed.
Kerry immediately noticed the change and asked Miah what was wrong.
"You're always out with Nick. You never read me my bedtime stories anymore."
It was true, Kerry had been with Nick almost every spare second she'd had for the past month. Everything was going so well, she couldn't stand to be away from him. He made her so happy, she felt like she was on a high that just never ended. But now, looking at Miah's saddened expression, she felt awful. "Doesn't Aunt HayHay read to you?"
Miah nodded slowly. "Yes, but it's not you."
"I'm sorry, babygirl..." Kerry began, but stopped when she saw Miah beginning to cry. She hugged Miah close to her. "What is it, sweetie?"
"You're gonna forget about me!" Miah cried.
Kerry's heart sank. She grabbed Miah, ans sat on the bed, holding Miah in a tight hug on her lap. "Miah, I am never ever going to forget about you. You are the most important thing in my life. I'm sorry if we haven't been spending enough time together lately."
Miah just looked at Kerry, tears still slipping from her light green eyes.
"I love you, Miah. Don't ever, ever doubt that, okay?" Kerry pleaded.
Miah nodded, "Will you read to me tonight?"
"Yes, baby, I will." Kerry squeezed her again and set her down on the bed. "I'm gonna call Nick." Kerry walked down the hall, thinking she would probably just tell Nick she'd be late, wait til Miah went to bed and then go over. She dialed Nick's number, feeling like those few extra hours of not seeing him may drive her crazy.
"What's up?"
"Hey Nick."
"Hey!! I miss you." Nick said, smiling. In a little while, she'd be there with him. He often found himself almost counting the seconds until he could be with her again.
"It hasn't been that long since you saw me, goofball." Kerry giggled. She loved that he thought about her, maybe even really did miss being with her, the way she missed him.
"No matter how long it is, it's always too long." he said softly.
Kerry knew she had to have the silliest expression on her face, she did everytime they talked on the phone. He was always saying something cute. "Well, I hate to tell you this, but it's gonna be a little bit longer."
"What? Why? What's going on?" Nick asked quickly.
Kerry sighed. "Munchkin is upset with me... she's afraid I'm fogetting about her. Which makes me feel bad, because I understand it. She and I haven't done anything together in weeks..."
"I'm sorry, Kerry. I'm not trying to take you away from her." Nick felt bad, he didn't want Kerry getting caught up in a mess of trying to divide her time, between him and her daughter.
"I know... I told her I'd read her a bedtime story tonight, so I'll be over after that, okay?"
Nick was quiet for a moment, thinking.
"Nick?" Kerry asked. "You there?"
"Yeah, right here- I was just thinkin'. Put Miah on the phone will you?"
"Um, okay... let me go get her." Kerry had no clue what was going on, but went to grab Miah from in front of her Blues Clues video.
"Momma! I'm watchin' tv!" Miah protested as Kerry hauled her into the kitchen to the phone.
"You have a phone call, Miss Thang." Kerry said, handing Miah the phone.
Miah suddenly perked up and put the phone to her ear, "Hello?"
"Hey, cutie."
"Niiiicccckkkk!!!!" Miah shrieked.
Nick held the phone away from him and laughed. "Yup, it's me, munchkin. I got an idea.. wanna hear it?"
"Uh huh!"
"I was thinkin' you and your mom could come over here to my house tonight, and we could get a pizza and you can pick a movie for us to watch. How does that sound?"
'OHHH!!! Fun!" she squealed and dropped the phone, running to tug on Kerry's shorts. "Momma!! Nick said I can pick a movie!"
"Umm, okay..." Kerry grabbed the phone. "What's going on?"
Nick laughed, "I got dropped!"
"Yes, you did. That's what you get for getting her all wound up. Now what's going on?"
"I asked if you and her would want to come over here, order a pizza and she could pick a movie for us to watch. Y'know, so she doesn't feel left out. That cool?"
Kerry's big smile returned. He would think of something sweet like that. "Sounds perfect. When do you want us there?"
"Now?"
Kerry giggled. "How about, as soon as possible?"
Nick gave an exasperated sigh, "I guess that will have to work."
Kerry hung up the phone and went to round up Miah. "C'mon chickie poo. We gotta go get ourselves ready." Kerry dressed quickly, throwing on track pants and Nike sweatshirt, then went to see how Miah was fairing at getting dressed on her own. Kerry stuck her head into Miah's room, "Hey, not bad babygirl." Miah didn't exactly match, red knit pants and an orange t-shirt with a big yellow cat on the front of it, but at least the shirt and pants appeared to be on the right way.
"KERRY?? Your happy ass still here?" Haley yelled as she walked in the door downstairs.
Kerry bounced down the steps, Miah in tow, and said, "Yes, but our very cheery behinds are on their way out the door right about now."
Haley started to reach for Miah, "Don't I get Munchie tonight?"
"You were going to, but Nick decided she should hang out with us." Kerry put Miah down and told her to go grab her coat. She turned to Haley and said, " Miah got all upset while ago, 'cause she thinks I'm gonna forget about her... so Nick asked her to come over with me tonight."
"Okay, he is just too adorable sometimes." Haley said, wrinkling up her nose.
Kerry sighed and smiled, "Isnt it great?"
Haley made a gagging noise and grabbed Miah to give her a hug. She was very glad that Kerry was so happy now, but it was almost to the point of being too much- too happy, too giddy. It was such a change, it all seemed weird now, but a good weird, she thought. "You have fun tonight, Miah, okay?"
Miah nodded and started pulling Kerry towards the door. "Come ON, Momma!"
"Yes, baby! Chill!" Kerry hugged Haley quickly, saying," I've got the cell phone, call me if you need anything. I love you sis."
"I know, you say that everytime, and I love you more." Haley replied, returning Kerry's hug. "Be good, K." she smirked.
"Do I hafta?" Kerry whined, grinning.
"Yes, but just 'cause you got the munchkin. Get him next time." Haley giggled.
Kerry blushed, "Time for us to go!"
"Like you've never thought about it!" Haley called as Kerry walked out the door.
"You! Hush!!" Kerry yelled back.
******
Nick ran for the door as soon as he heard Kerry pull up in the driveway. He flung the door open and watched as Miah ran toward him. He grabbed her up in a hug and swung her around, causing her giggle and hug him tight.
Kerry smiled, watching them together. Knowing that Nick liked Miah made him even more attractive to Kerry, even though she had yet to find something that made him unattractive to her. She kissed him quickly on the lips and walked inside, pulling him and Miah with her.
"Alright, let's get some food on the way here. What do my two favorite women want on their pizza?"
"Pep-a-woni!!" Miah exclaimed.
"Ohhh, good choice." Nick said, putting Miah down and tugging gently on her pigtails. "And for you?" he asked Kerry, kissing her cheek.
"I think I'll go for some pep-a-woni myself." she smiled.
"Then pep-a-woni it is." Nick laughed and went to order the pizza. While he was on hold he called to Miah, telling her to find a video she'd like to watch.
Kerry and Miah dug through Nick's massive video collection and finally settled on Casper. Kerry was setting up the VCR as Nick walked back into the room.
He saw the video box lying out and said, "Awright! Christina Ricci!"
Kerry made a face at him, "Just because she had better boobs at 15 than I have at 20 AFTER having a kid..."
Nick started to tell Kerry her boobs were just perfect, but decided against it, noting their present company. "She's just... cute."
"It's alright, Casper- when he's alive- is hot." Kerry said, grinning.
"Well then we're even." Nick replied, sitting down on the couch.
The movie started and Miah turned around, her finger pressed against her lips, "Shhhh."
Kerry giggled and settled next to Nick on the couch. He arranged himself, then pulled Kerry to him so that she was leaning back against his chest. She sighed happily, grabbing his hands and wrapping his arms around her.
When the guard rang from the gate saying the pizza delivery guy was waiting, Nick reluctantly moved Kerry off his lap and went to get it. He returned and within minutes the pizza was almost demolished. Nick put the little remaining in the refrigerator and went back to the couch, pulling Kerry back into their previous position.
Kerry gladly snuggled up against him, watching as Miah, stretched out on the floor. "She's gonna be out in no time." Kerry whispered to him.
Nick hugged her, and said, "Shhh, I'm watching Christina."
Kerry elbowed him playfully and alternated her attention between the movie and listening for Miah's breathing, the deep peaceful breaths that signalled her being lost in dreamland. Kerry finally got lost enough in the movie to finish it out, crying when Casper finally got his wish.
Nick pulled Kerry to face him and gently kissed away the tears sliding down her cheeks. He softly carressed her cheek and traced her lips with his tongue before kissing her passionately, his tongue exploring her mouth. He puleed away from her, saying he'd be right back. He carefully picked Miah up off the floor and carried her into one of the gest bedrooms, laying her down and covering her with a blanket. He paused for a second in the door way, looking at the sleeping child. He could do this- there was no reason he couldn't love her, too.
He went back into the living room with Kerry, cuddling on the couch- talking and laughing until almost 5 in the morning. It seemed that they never ran out of things to talk about, stories to tell or questions to ask.
When Kerry almost fell asleep while listening to Nick tell a story about AJ accidentally mooning some little old lady when it was supposed to be Howie, she knew it was too late. "Nick, I gotta get home" she said, trying to stand up somewhat unsucessfully.
Nick caught her as she wobbled. "Ker, just stay here..."
Kerry knew she was too tired to drive, and didn't really want to protest his offer anyway. "Okay..." She stumbled up the steps, and stopped in the hallway. "Which room did you put her in?"
"The one you're standing in front of, but don't wake her up.." Nick said, taking Kerry's hand and leading her further down the hall. He pushed open the door to his bedroom, and flipped on the lights. "You can sleep in here... I'll, uh.. be over in here..." he said, opening the door of the next room.
Kerry held onto his wrist. "Nick, I'm not kicking you out of your bedroom..." she pulled him into the room with her. "If I'm sleeping in here, so are you." Kerry walked over to the huge bed and keeled over onto it, wiggling herself up to the pillows.
Nick watched her closely as she moved up the bed, trying to ignore the thoughts of all the things he'd rather be doing than sleeping. He shook his head and joined her on the bed, sliding behind her, aligning his body with hers, and held her close to him.
Kerry pressed back against him just a little, loving the feel of his strong arms around her, enveloping her, protecting her. She fell asleep immediately, a smile on her lips.
Nick woke a few hours later, Kerry still sleeping blissfully in his arms. He looked carefully at her- the delicate smile on her face, her hair fanned out on the pillow, the way her chest rose and fell as she took each breath, the way her body seemed to fit perfectly with his. He knew he had to tell her now, before he went crazy. Even if she didn't feel the same, he wanted her to know. "Kerry." he whispered softly in her ear.
Kerry stirred in her sleep, sure that the feeling of being embrace was just part of a great dream she didn't want to wake up from. She'd never actually slept with anyone before, just cuddling and sleeping. With Josh it was always fuck and run. But she heard it again, someone calling her name. She shifted slightly, then rolled over and found herself looking in Nick's eyes, still being held by him. "Morning" she whispered.
"G'mornin'." he said and kissed her lightly. "I gotta tell you something..."
Kerry began thinking, 'oh god, what's wrong?'. "Um, what would that be?"
Nick propped himself up on his elbow and looked deep in Kerry's eyes. "I love you, Kerry."
Kerry bit her lip as she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She took a shaky breath and said, "I love you, too."
Nick grabbed her into a hug, pulling her against his chest. He'd wanted to hear her say it so badly, but figured it would be a long time before he got to.
Kerry slipped her arms around him, tears sliding down her cheeks. This was real, this was what love was supposed to be. She whispered, "I've never said that before..."
"Maybe that's because before wasn't real love." he said softly.
"I know... I knew it wasn't then either, you don't tell someone you love them and then beat the shit out of them."
Nick's hands roamed across Kerry's back, rubbing the tension from her. "No, you don't. You tell someone you love them, and you show them with your actions. And I wanna do that Kerry, prove my love is for real."
Kerry kissed him deeply. "I want you to. Show me what it's like to be loved."
Nick smiled, and rolled onto his back, pulling Kerry on top of him and wrapping his arms around her. "I will, I promise."