Two Chicks and a Baby
by Marie

Quick recap: Jessie and Katie reunited at Grace's wedding after 9 years of being apart. Jessie had decided to move back to Chicago after finishing her thesis.
Notes: Wow...it's been forever since I posted a new part for this fic. I blame a slightly severe case of writer's block. I mean, I know pretty much where I want the story to go, but it just wasn't  happening. But it seems my muse has really done a great job of making me write this part. I love having a muse, and I really recommend it. ;) So, if you send me feedback, you'll be feeding my muse...and she really likes that (and so does her monkey, btw) =P Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it. So, on with the story:

PART 6

Chicago…4 Days Later

Katie glanced at her watch, cursing under her breath as she saw the time. "Damn it! I HATE traffic in and out of this damned airport."   Driving like a bat out hell, she zoomed into the hourly parking garage and quickly found a spot. She was making up for lost time until she got stopped at the baggage claim entrance. A security guard had spotted her running in. "Ma'am, I'm sorry but there's no running allowed through the airport."

"What?" she questioned exasperated. "I'm here to pick someone up and I HAVE to be there as soon as they walk into the atrium."

"Ma'am, if you keep that up the only place you'll end up is being escorted OUT of the atrium…in handcuffs."

"Fine," she relented. "I'm wasting my precious time with this crap.  So, I'll walk…FAST!"

She quickly found the conveyor belt out of which Jessie's bags were supposed to come up. There were people standing around and waiting, but she couldn't spot Jessie. Then, she suddenly felt familiar long, delicate hands wrapping themselves around her waist. She, of course, knew who it was, but decided to let Jessie have a little fun. "Hey!"

Jessie giggled against Katie's neck. "Finally…took you long enough."

"You feeling me up at the airport doesn't happen every day. I HAD to milk it," that earned her a playful pull on her left ear. "Hey!"

"Have you nothing else to say, but `hey'?"

"I sure do…" Katie trailed off, as she turned around still encircled by Jessie's arms. With that, she leaned forward and gave her a quick, chaste kiss. "We'll continue this later," she whispered against Jessie's lips.

"Hmmm…" Jessie beamed. "God, I missed you. These past four days have been torture…"

"For me too, babe," Katie agreed looking for the luggage. "Now, give me your luggage so we can go and I can give you a proper welcome home."

"Deal." Jessie grabbed her backpack while Katie took the rest. They walked hand in hand out of the baggage claim and into the parking garage.

They drove over to Karen's where it was agreed Jessie would be staying. She and Katie had discussed it prior to her arrival and while it took a bit convincing, Katie relented when Jessie explained that she wanted to do things right and that to do so they had to take things slowly.

As a present for obtaining her PhD., Rick and Karen surprised Jessie with the necessary capital to start her own tiny practice. She found the perfect little office nestled about a block away from Booklovers in between a pizza joint and a Pilates instructor. Katie had been extremely supportive and had even helped furnish the tiny waiting room and office with furniture left over from her firm's abandoned and not-so-successful projects. So about five weeks after arriving back in her hometown, Dr. Jessie Sammler, Child Psychologist opened her office. She decided to specialize in teenagers with issues about self-esteem, sexuality and eating disorders. Her visits with Dr. Rosenfeld had been a very helpful experience for her and she thought she should return the favor.

One night, six months after the practice opened, Katie took Jessie out to dinner to celebrate her success. "Sweetheart, tonight is a night to celebrate your success," Katie began as they were seated and the waiter came over to take their drink order. "What would you like?" he asked flashing a smile.

Katie returned the smile. "We'll take a bottle of your finest champagne!"

"Katie…" Jessie whispered after the waiter left. "That's a $150 bottle, you know."

Katie laughed. "Billie, no worries. Tonight is your night and I intend to celebrate to the fullest."

Once the champagne was brought to them, Katie raised her glass. "Time for a toast…Jessie, you have done an incredible job in establishing your practice and I couldn't be prouder of you and the work you do with all those kids."

"Aw, Katie-" Jessie was blushing.

"Wait. There's only one thing that would make me happier…"

"What's that?"

"Jess, I know you said we should take things slowly. I think we have so far. But between your hours and mine we're having a challenge in finding time to be together."

Jessie's features turned serious and she looked concerned. "Are you breaking up with me?"

Katie laughed, confusing Jessie even more. "Of course not. Quite the opposite. As I was saying, we're having a tough time because there are days when we've both worked so hard all we want to do is go home and go to bed. So…I was thinking. Why don't we make it one home?"

Jessie smiled. "Wait. Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"Yes, I am. Billie, I love you," Katie reached over to grab her hand. "And I want you to be with me more than just twice a week. Now I know that we'll both still have our crazy schedules, but just knowing that when I come home you'll be there, that when I get into bed, you'll be right next to me…that's all I need. So what do you say?"

Jessie beamed. "Aw, Katie. That's what I want too, so my answer's yes!"

Katie responded by taking Jessie's hand off the table and planting a soft kiss on her palm. And with that, a week later Jessie moved into Katie's 25th floor apartment overlooking Lake Michigan.

Weeks and months passed and they settled into their routine. It consisted of work, time with their family, volunteering, and taking Philip to sporting events or whatever he wanted to do since Jessie just adored spending time with her baby brother. The adoration was mutual as Philip once secretly told Jessie that she was his favorite sister. He also thought that Katie was just awesome…for a girl.

One of the early rules they'd come up with when they moved in together was that Sundays were their "Alone Day." Basically it was a day for them to do whatever they pleased. Some days they just read the paper and then spent all day in bed. But one Sunday a month they spent the day apart. Each would go off to do something different and outrageous to surprise the other. Katie had the upper hand; one day she'd come home sporting a "Property of Billie" tattoo. Jessie freaked until Katie reassured her that it was a temporary one. For her part, Jessie would usually go to an offbeat bookstore or art gallery and she'd get Katie the funniest or most unusual gift she could find. Her last gift had been a book called "Interpreting Your Dog's Dreams."
 

Months later…

Katie called Grace one morning and asked her out for a coffee. She'd told her that there was something important she wanted to discuss with her. Grace was a little apprehensive about meeting her. Grace, being herself, worried that maybe Katie had asked her out to get ideas on how to break up with Jessie. "Oh, God, I hope not," she thought. "I can't have any part in breaking her heart."

That afternoon, they met at the nearby coffehouse. Katie smiled when she saw Grace, who was clearly showing. It had been about two years since she'd married Tad and now they were expecting their first child. It was a secret, but she was expecting a boy whom she and Tad had agreed would be named Nathan. (James Lafferty shout-out. Yes, I watch One Tree Hill… ;))

"Hey, Grace," she greeted her. "You look great."

"Thanks, Katie." She was nervous. "Alright, so what is this big secret meeting about? You better not be doing anything to hurt my baby sister," she warned.

Katie smirked. "Easy there with those maternal instincts kicking in.  I do have a reason for asking you to see me like this…"

"Go on."

"Grace, Jess and I've been together for going on two years now and we've been living together for the past year and a half…but I think it's time I finally make an honest woman out of her."

Grace squealed. "You're gonna propose?"

Katie couldn't help but beam. "Yep!"

"Aw, Katie. Who knew deep down you were so old-fashioned?"

"Funny, Grace. I just want Jess to know that I intend on spending the rest of my life with her. I want us to grow old together, to build a home, to one day raise a family."

"You want kids too?" Grace was in awe. Katie had always seemed to her like a free spirit, the type of person who can't seem to think past what they're doing next week.

"Well, we haven't discussed it yet, but if Jess does then we will.  Can you imagine how adorable our child would look? A tiny little version of Jessie running all over the house?"

Grace chuckled. "Well, you seem to be up for it. Now why are you telling me all this, isn't Jessie be the one you should be asking?"  "Yes. And I already know just how I will propose, but I need your help in getting this thing together…"

"This thing?"

"Yes. There are arrangements to be made…"  And with that, the plans for the proposal were set in motion. Katie and Grace had it all arranged to coincide with Jessie and Katie's second anniversary.

That fateful night, Katie told Jessie that she was taking her out.  Jessie had been expecting them to go to the fanciest restaurant in town and then maybe catch a play or an art show. She was extremely surprised to see that Katie had taken them to the movie theater.  Once they parked and got out of the car, she felt completely overdressed. She was wearing a gorgeous spaghetti-strapped black dress, while Katie wore a strapless pale green one. "Um, Katie, why are we here?" she asked.

"Relax, Billie," Katie replied as she took hold of her hand. "It'll all be revealed in due time. Just come with me." She smiled at the boy manning the ticket window and opened the door for Jessie.

They walked into one of the theaters. It had a "Do Not Enter" sign flashing above the door. As soon as they went inside, Jessie noticed that there was something different. There was a ladder leading to the stage on the far end and the middle row of seats had flowers adorning the backrests.

"Katie, what is this?" she finally asked.

"Oh, I wanted to do something different for us," she explained. "Come on, our movie is about to start." She turned around and looked towards the crow's nest. "Hey Joe! Would you start the movie?"

"Sure thing," came a loud voice.

They sat together with Jessie resting comfortably in Katie's arms.  She was extremely thrilled that Katie had arranged for them to see the movie they saw on their first official date, "A Walk To Remember."

Once the movie ended, the screen lifted and it revealed a table for two. Katie went up the steps followed by Jessie who looked completely mesmerized by the scene in front of her.. "Dinner for two, my lady," she bowed as she led Jessie to her chair. The table was spotlessly decorated with a crisp white tablecloth and red place settings. The centerpiece was a flower arrangement made of red roses and white gardenias. Next to the table was a bucket with a bottle of Dom Perignon. Ready for what was to follow.

Katie removed the plate covers to reveal Jessie's favorite, chicken pineapple pizza; Katie had introduced her to it one day after school.  They ate their meal in companionable silence, occasionally gazing intently into each other's eyes and reveling in their closeness.

As soon as they were both finished, Katie stood up and then knelt in front of Jessie. Jessie immediately thought that Katie was proposing, but Katie shot that notion when she began to laugh. "What's so funny?" Jessie quipped.

"Nothing, really," Katie covered. She was so nervous she couldn't help but laugh. "You just looked as if I was going to propose or something," she laughed it off.

"Oh," Jessie whispered, trying not to sound disappointed.

"Jess, I have something I want to read to you," Katie spoke slowly as she pulled a tiny green sheet of paper out of her purse. She opened it and began to read the first poem she'd ever read to Jessie, John Clare's First Love. (Go here if you'd like to read it:  http://www.firstscience.com/SITE/poems/clare1.asp)

Jessie stared into Katie's eyes, completely captivated by the look of total adoration she saw reflected in those beautiful blue-green eyes.

Katie finished the poem and cleared her throat. This was it. She quickly reached into her purse again, this time for something a little more important  "Jessie, as I'm sure you noticed, tonight is a night of firsts. Today is the second anniversary of the day you walked into my life for good, I wanted to do something special for us. And since I don't want you to ever walk out of my life again," she leant closer. "…I need to tell you this." Jessie began to tear up and could not believe her eyes. "I want today to also be our first night as an engaged couple. So, Jessie Elizabeth Sammler…would you make me the happiest woman in the world and give me the honor of calling you my wife?" 

Jessie just lost it. "Yes, yes, yes! I'll marry you, Billie!"

Katie finally let out the breath she'd been holding for the past 30 seconds. "Oh, Jess," she squealed. Then she leaned in and they shared a strong passionate kiss that conveyed all the emotions running through them. Jessie had been so lost in Katie's eyes, hanging to every word, that she hadn't noticed the gorgeous platinum engagement ring in her love's hand.

Katie's nerves were still getting the best of her and she fumbled with the ring. "May I?" she asked surprisingly shy considering she already knew the answer.

"Of course," Jessie whispered, in awe as she focused on the ring, her ring. As Katie put it on, she sighed. "Katie, this ring is absolutely perfect!"

"You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that. If only you knew all that I went through to find the perfect ring. But that's not important…what's important is that you said yes. And I will spend the rest of my life loving the one person who captured my heart all those years ago and who still makes me feel as nervous and excited as the first time I really laid eyes on you when Tad introduced us by your locker."

Jessie tilted her head remembering that glorious day. "I didn't know then that that day would turn out to be the luckiest day of my life.  And while it took me a little longer than you to reach that same conclusion, I still feel exactly the same way I did that day in the attic when I finally accepted the intensity and true nature of my feelings for you….and that was the happiest day of my life."

Katie heard the words and instantly knew what she needed to do, she needed it as badly as she needed to breathe. So she leaned closer as did Jessie and their lips found each other and did what came completely natural to them. After a few moments of getting lost in each other, they pulled apart breathless. "What now?" Jessie asked playing with a strand of Katie's hair that had been somehow pulled free of her messy bun.

Katie giggled and stood up. She walked over to the bucket and took the champagne. "Well, I know there's a rose-petal-filled hot tub and bed with our names on them." Jessie just laughed as she took hold of Katie's hand and they made their way out of the theater and back to their apartment.

The next morning they discussed telling everyone the good news while they had breakfast at their favorite diner.

"How should we tell them?" Jessie asked as she took a bite of her Belgian waffles.

"Oh, I don't know, Jess. How about we send them all an email?" Katie remarked seriously from behind the paper.

"An email?!" Jessie was aghast. "You cannot be serious."

Katie lowered the paper. "Of course not, sweetie, but I had to say that just had to see that face."

Jessie was not amused. "Come on, Billie, I'm serious. How should we go about this?"

"Jess, just breathe. I think everyone already knows."

"They what? How?"

"Well," Katie explained. "I needed help to put the whole proposal together, so I asked Grace."

"And she did?" Jessie was shocked.

"Yep."

"Unbelievable. MY sister actually helped you with this and kept it a secret?" They both laughed.

"I know. Amazing, isn't it?"

"Oh, definitely," Jessie smiled. "But you know, I will have to get on her. She finally learns how to keep a secret. Well, ok. That takes care of Grace and Tad, but what about everyone else?"

"Um," Katie shifted uncomfortably.

"You mean everyone knows?" Jessie sounded disappointed.

"Honey," Katie reached for Jessie. "I had to. I wanted to ask you to be my wife with your family's blessing. So I went and talked to both Rick and Karen. They both laughed when I told them that I was asking for their daughter's hand in marriage, that I wanted to make an honest woman out of you. All they could say was `finally!' I was completely overjoyed at their unconditional support. Jess, your parents are amazing and I'm so lucky they've welcomed me into the family."

"So everyone knows," was all Jessie managed. She was still completely dumbfounded. "Everyone knew about the proposal before I did…"

"Yeah," Katie smiled trying to brighten the mood. "BUT…they don't know that you said yes."

"That's right," Jessie's face lit up. "Now I get to tell them all!"

"Don't you mean `we'?"

"Uh, no. You had your fun, now I get to have mine and share in the news," Jessie giggled.

The next night, they hosted a dinner at their apartment where they shared the news with the whole family. After the news was revealed, they toasted the happy couple. Immediately after, Karen, Lily, and even Grace went into wedding planning mode. The three of them went on and on about flowers, decorations, place settings, location, menu, the photographer, music, the honeymoon destination, you name it.

"This is going to be a long six months," Katie whispered into Jessie's ear. That earned her a giggle and a soft slap on her wrist.

TBC…please be patient. I want to do justice to this story, but will do my best to update as soon as I can. :)