Do We Fight for What We Want or Give Up? (KAT)

[knox]

It had been nearly eight days since they had gotten home from the clinic. Since he'd put her on the couch in the den and slept on the couch in the living room. Even exhausted as he was from sleeping so much due to the drugs he didn't allow himself to sleep through the night, he didn't allow himself to sleep until she awoke. When he finally heard her stirring he'd entered the den and told her he was going to set the break in her ribs so that it didn't heal wrong. Unfortunately he'd had to rebreak a couple of them as they'd already began to healing wrong. She'd cried from the pain but hadn't said a word to him. He'd ignored her nails digging into his arms as he worked, ignored the cuts, ignored the blood.

The wound to her leg had already nearly healed and there was nothing he could do about the bruises on her.. those would have to heal on their own. Once he'd set her ribs and wrapped them tightly he'd sat on the table in the den, watching her for a moment, wondering if she was going to speak with him or not. Chocolate colored gaze had danced over her face as he'd watched her before sighing and leaving the room when he'd realized that she wasn't going to talk to him at all. While he'd waited for her to do something other than hang out in the den he'd cleaned the rest of the house, making sure everything was back in order. He'd even thrown out the couch and stolen one from another house that looked decent in the living room before stealing new bedding for the bedroom upstairs.

After the first day Knox had stopped making food for Kat because she just didn't seem to want anything he'd made. He'd slept alone either in the living room or in the spare room upstairs, leaving the master bedroom for her in case she'd wanted it. As the 8th morning dawned Knox had gotten up and made breakfast for himself, eating silently in the living room before dropping his plate into the sink and leaned against the counter. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't live in a place where someone was just... there. He moved to the den and opened the door quietly to see if she was even awake. When he saw that she was he cleared his throat. "Kat?" He said, speaking to her as well for the first time in nearly three days since he'd decided before that he was going to just leave her alone until she was ready. He coudn't stick to that decision anymore.

It didn't matter if she looked at him or not, even though he was banking on her not looking, he would still speak the same words. "I can't do this anymore, Kat. I love you but I can't just be here. I can't keep sticking around a place that I'm not wanted.. Where the person I live with cringes when I walk into a room. I can't stay here if you're not even going to talk to me. I can't do it anymore." He said as he stared at her. Knox didn't even seem ashamed to say that he loved her, he didn't struggle to get it out, he simply said it as if it were nothing more than common knowledge.

A hand raised to brush his hair, hating having to say all of this. But he knew that he couldn't just hang around the house anymore if she weren't going to make an attempt to talk to him. He chewed on his lower lip for a moment before he stepped into the room and knelt down in front of the couch, letting his gaze rest on her face for a split second before dropping to his hands clasped lightly in front of him. "I thought that if I gave you your space and left you alone you'd be alright. I'm not helping you by being here, Kat. It seems like I'm doing more damage than good and I just-" He paused, sucking in a slow breath before shaking his head and reaching out a hand to touch hers, though it only hovered an inch or two above her hand for a moment then dropped with a low sigh as he looked back into her face. "I don't know what else to do..." He whispered with a look of pain on his face.

"I'll be out of here tonight.." He said as he pushed himself up to his feet and made for the door. What was he expecting? Anger, grief, for her to start crying, for her to beg him not to leave, for her to throw things at him and scream he was worthless? Any of them. All of them. None of them at all. He didn't know. Knox swallowed hard as he stood in the doorway for a moment before turning to leave the room. He wasn't trying to tick her off or make her cry, not really.. He honestly just hoped for some sort of reaction from her. "I'm sorry.." He whispered before slipping out of the room to go and pack his things back up.

[Katerina Night]

It had been eight days of hell unfortunately for Kat. She didn't know how to act, or what to say to him. It honestly scared the crap out of her unsure which Knox to trust or what to believe. Knowing that one of them had beaten her pretty badly, plus there was the dream and that always had her cringing. Alot of times whenever he came near her or even just into the room.

She had been in so much pain as he reset her ribs, digging her nails so hard into his arms. It hurt and she wanted to lash out but the pain was too much, leaving her silent soon after. All the days that followed drew more and more complicated. Whenever she though perhaps she could trust him a flicker of the dream, or what transpired at the clinic would come. Kat would once more retreat and try to forget, although at the same time she was making him feel horrible. A part of her wanting too.

When he came in her head turned slightly as her name was called, sucking in a breath as she sat with a blanket curled over her legs. Staring down at the table for the moment but had decided she needed to talk, find out what the hell happened. And most of all why he had just up and left her like he did. So when he spoke it was like someone just punched her in the chest and she tensed up. Gripping into the blanket so she didn't lose it.

He was leaving? And as he continued explaining she closed her eyes feeling her eyes watering up and knew she would lose it. Pursing her lips some but wasn't sure how to say anything to him, she was hurt, confused, upset and just didn't know what to do. It was when he openly admitted loving her she jerked her head over to him. Staring at him, those green eyes boring into his own. "Yy..ou...you love me? But you said that before....and you LEFT!! You fucking left me Knox." By now the tears had started down her cheeks but she ignored them.

"You don't have any idea how much that hurt waking up and you were just gone. I had heard you, but it was like you said those words yet it didn't mean a thing." Growling some as she looked at him, searching his eyes when he came over to kneel before her infront of the couch. Shaking a little trying to push back everything and finally get it off her chest. "Damn Knox...I was falling in love with you and hear that....but than finding out you left.

When I saw you....or the doctor I don't even know which is who and what was real. Everything about that Knox was you or at least I thought and you wanted to rescue those girls. Than getting inside and that room...you were.....and than he..." She shook her head continuously trying to make sense of it all before taking in a breath. Moving her hand to clutch at her chest. Slowly looking back up hoping she could get this all out. "I don't even know what happen when I was knocked out, I was seeing such happiness

but than you called me a worthless whore and mother...After telling me you loved me... Than I woke up in pain only to have you or the clone come into the room and..." She had no idea if he would understand her words, part of it had been the dream turn nightmare and than what the doctor did to her. Wrapping her arms around herself she soon had her face in her hands crying. Katerina, the strong, cocky sexy woman he loved was completely broken and breaking down. Broken in a way many woman didn't normally survive and still trying to understand and come to grips with everything. Unfortunately she didn't even know EVERYTHING that happened.

[knox]

He'd already made it to the door by the time she started speaking. Even though he wanted her to talk to him or say something other than sit there, the words that left her lips had him sighing in irritation. "Don't you get it?!" He asked, turning quickly on heel to look back at her. A flicker of anger danced behind his eyes as he stared at her. "I've never felt like this before. Never. Jesus, at first I thought I was just losing my goddamned mind with the way my heart pounded whenever I looked at you. Or the way I couldn't breathe right when you were curled up beside me. I thought I was going crazy! And then it hit me.. Shit, I realized it almost three weeks ago now that I love you. And I was going to try and suck it up and forget about it because I thought you were just like me!" He was shouting now without meaning to. Mostly because he was trying to hold back tears of his own, though his were from anger and exasperation. Before she would get the chance to say anything he started shouting again. "I thought that you were just in it for the fun.. And then I hear you tell me, in your sleep of all things, that you love me. God! You have no idea what that was like for me!" He shouted again as he stepped around the side of the couch to stand in front of her once more.

Again, before she could speak he was already shouting again and it felt good to get all of this off of his chest. "I realized as soon as you said it that the way we felt was... dangerous, Kat. You and me? We're not the kind of people meant for long relationships or families or any shit like that. You know that just as well as I do. And as soon as I knew that you felt the same I knew that I had to get the hell out of here before I could do any more damage to you." He shook his head with a deep sigh as he sank down onto the coffee table across from her. His elbows came to rest on his knees and his face landed within his hands. Knox listened as she spoke before shaking his head. "I did mean them, Kat, and that was why I had to leave. You don't get it and you of all people should.." He said without looking up at her. His voice was only slightly muffled through his hands as he sat there, taking in several deep breaths to try and calm himself.

Though as she spoke again he couldn't stop himself from tipping his face to look at her. What the hell is she talking about? He asked himself, a brow raising as he looked at her before it sank in and he shook his head hard. "No, no no. They had me not 20 minutes after I walked out of this house. The f**kin' doctor is a shifter and he shifted into ME! I can't believe you didn't even notice it. He drugged you and then knocked you out and.." His voice caught in his throat as he realized Kat didn't remember everything that had happened there. His gaze trailed over his face, the anger gone having been replaced by saddness and pain. "I'd never call you that." He said softly, wanting nothing more than to reach out and touch her, but couldn't bring himself to because he had a feeling she'd cringe away again. His tongue brushed actoss his lips before swallowing hard as his gaze stayed on her face while she cried. "What else do you remember, Kat.." He asked, his voice shaking slightly.

[Katerina Night]

Kat looked at him when he spoke and was actually yelling at her shivering some as he spoke. Unsure what to say honestly at his admisstions before sighing out and looking away from his eyes. Something about that anger in them made her feel even worse and want to hide away from the emotion. Biting on her bottom lip a little when he explained about not wanting to or that they shouldn't of had the feelings. "Don't you think I know that Knox? We had this convinent, easy to accept deal between us I suppose. Neither of us wanting or needing a relationship yet were able to get along fine. I was just like you on how it was suppose to be, but something happened..."

Shaking her head as she paused her own voice raising a little before she looked back to him. "You got under my skin, reaching me in ways no one else could Knox and damn it I wanted to fight it. But the more I tried the stronger it got and as you heard I did say I love you. Couldn't help but to fall for you and not some damn crush. I was irrevocatably and completely in love with you." Glaring up a moment at him with the same anger before a whispered add came out of her lips. "And I still am..."

Shaking her head some not able or wanting to look at him, but couldn't keep from it as he came before her. Seeing him cover his own face and her hand shot out before she stopped it wanting to comfort him, but scared too. Closing her eyes when he got to how fast they had captured him and what exactly the doctor was her eyes flashing a moment to red before it vanished. Kat had a real issue with shifters of any kind and knowing that bastard was one had her pretty pissed. But she reeled it in for now. Narrowing her eyes at him a moment, "Excuse the hell out me for not knowing right away that bastard wasn't you alright...I was pissed off and clearly not thinking straight Knox." Growling at him before raining it back and just let the tears fall.

Her hand still covering her face unable to believe she was this torn over a guy, but she was and it scared the hell out of her. It scared her because she was afraid not of them still fighting, but if she did lose him. Sure this wasn't how she was with men she slept with but Knox wasn't just another guy. It all scared, upset and enraged her but she didn't want to think about what she would feel if he just vanished or worse. His question had her shaking her head. "I...I can't....god...what he....how it...god please don't ask me to remember Knox...please I'm begging you...." Lifting her head up slowly looking at him and the way her eyes looked it would probably scare him just how badly she was hurting over all this.

But still he would be able if he looked close enough to see one strong, lingering emotion in her eyes that never had vanished. Love.

[knox]

He listened to her admission, chewing on his lower lip. He didn't have to say that even though he'd left he still loved her. She knew it. He shook his head again before sighing. " Dammit, Kat.." He whispered, not knowing what else to say here. He loved her. She loved him. Knox had never been in a situation like this before so he didn't know what the hell he was supposed to do here. His fingers found the hair above his forehead and gripped at it hard while he stared at the floor in thought. What the hell was he supposed to do? He knew he couldn't go, but at the same time he still had that feeling that he wasn't welcome here with her either.

A faint growl rumbled in his throat as she snapped at him. "Just forget it, Kat." He muttered and shook his head without looking at her. He could think of a thousand ways she could have known right away that it wasn't him, that it was a trap that she should have high tailed it out. But he wasn't going to get into the argument right now. He couldn't muster the energy for that screaming match.

He sighed again when he looked at her with the question and watched her, waiting for an answer. Though seeing the tears whiched he hadn't asked at all. He chewed on his lip and stared back at her for what seemed like a really long time before he nodded softly. "Okay." He said, still nodding. "Okay, I won't ask again." Knox just continued to stare at her for a long time. He could see that flicker of emotion behind her eyes and a smaller one was in his own to mirror hers. But mixed with the love in his eyes were a thousand other emotions.

He chewed on the inside of his lower lip for a moment before hesitantly shifting from his place on the coffee table to kneel in front of her again. Even more hesitant his hands found hers, resting carefully on top so that she could pull away if needed. "I'm sorry.." He whispered again. "For everything.." It seemed like he hadn't even blinked as the chocolate hues rested on her face.

[Katerina Night]

Hearing his words she sighed some softly turning her head away sucking in another breath to try and center herself once agan. Licking at her lips slowly turning to allow her eyes to fall back on his face. Sighing softly hating how much stress all of this was causing the two of them. But she couldn't help the fact and neither could he honestly that they were no in this situation. Watchign him closely his behavior had her a little nervous and she wasn't sure what to think.

Hearing the growl she narrowed her eyes a moment but when he said forget it she was rather grateful. Licking her lips some before she sucked her bottom one into her mouth a moment than shook her head a little.

God right now she was a damn emotiona wreck and honestly hated it, but she was just hoping to get through it. Looking up at him when she begged him not to ask her again about what happened, shivering a little before he agreed. Staring back at him the tears unable to stop for the moment. Watching as he seemed to be processing something and wondered what it was before he dropped to kneel in front of her. Feeling his hands resting on top of her own and just looked at him. Though didn't move to pull her hands away, she honestly didn't want to having him not touching her. Even while she was pissed was hurting.

Shaking her head before lacing their fingers and squeezing his hands tightly before she took another breath and tried to speak. "Don't apologize Knox...I can't really blame you and neither should you blame yourself. Your right we both know better, but...I..I can't just let you go now. As for the clinic..." She shivered some squeezing his hands again, "We're not there, I'm safe and healing we can take care of them for this later. It will be behind her once all I'm healed and their gone we won't even think about it."

Of course she wasn't thinking about it and it wasn't clear if Knox was either. But their nightmare was far from over with what took place, just beginning and neither was going to like it when they found out.

[knox]

Knox made a face and rolled his eyes up as she told him not to apologize. "No, Kat. I have to apologize. Because if I hadn't taken off then you wouldn't have been stuck in that godforsaken place again. If I'd have left a month ago you wouldn't have messed up the house because you were pissed at me for leaving. If I'd of just left after that first night then things would be fine.." He said as he held her hands, returning the squeeze to them. "I should have.. Dear god, I should have left before things went this far." He whispered as he looked down at their hands, the pain evident in his voice. Of course he knew that he couldn't leave now. Not because she said that she didn't want to let him go, but because he knew that he wouldn't be able to. It would hurt too much.

But Knox also knew that what they felt between them? That was going to hurt much more when it all came crashing down. And eventually it would. It always did. Knox had never seen one of those happy relationships that lasted until people were in their 80's. Even when he was a kid. Old people fought more than young couples, they just stayed married because they'd been together so damned long and because they believed that once they were married they had to stay that way. He'd never seen anything work out for the best as far as relationships went. There was no happily ever after and he knew that when this -whatever this was that they had together- fell apart then it was only going to hurt more than it would to leave now. But even thinking about that, what would happen later on down the line, Knox still couldn't bring himself to leave again.

Of course he didn't know that this little argument was all they would have to deal with in the near future. Compared to what was coming this was nothing more than a tiny divot in the road, a pothole that they could drive over and get past. What was coming was more of a sheer drop off of a steep cliff and god only knew how they would make it through it, together or not. It just wouldn't be evident for a while as to what was going on. Knox had thought that he'd gotten Kat out of there before things could get too bad, before anything other than the cuts and bruises had happened to her. But even though he tried to believe that, there was always something nagging at the back of his head, always something pushing to get to the front of his mind. Still he ignored the little pesterance in his brain that told him to think back and just focused on her instead.

Slowly, still hesitant, one hand slipped out of hers and raised carfully to her cheek, almost as if afraid she was going to jerk away from him while his eyes locked onto hers. His thumb brushed over her cheek, wiping away the tears that had fallen and not making much of a difference since her face was already dampened from them. He swallowed hard, staring up at her as he shifted from his place on the floor to sit beside her on the couch as his hand brushed back through her hair. Knox tucked a couple of the curls behind her ear without looking away from her. Still being cautious he leaned in close and pressed a careful kiss against her lips, if she didn't pull away that is. He hated himself for actually falling for someone, for letting her get hurt, for her falling for him, for wanting nothing more than to kiss her and just hold her close to him, and for a billion other things at this point. In the end even though he hated himself for it, he still wanted to kiss her and unless she pulled away from him he would hold the kiss for as long as possible.

[Katerina Night]

When he spoke after rolling his eyes she sucked in a breath before shaking her head slightly. Still squeezing his hand and let him get it out have a close to the same thought running through her mind. But like him, Kat knew neither of them could honestly just up and leave now no matter what. They were in this now and she already could tell it wouldn't be all peaches and roses. A sigh leaving her lips before she looked back up to him slowly, staring back into those dark eyes her deep green showing how much she was still trying to understand. "Knox...as much as we both should of jumped ship before it go to deep. We can't. You jump I jump."

Leaning into his touch at her cheek and feeling her body slowly start to relax and he no doubt would hear the purring. Whenever she was happy or completely content she would purr brushing her cheek into the palm of his hand. Slowly letting their eyes meet again just before he came to join her on the couch. Feeling his fingers against her soft curls, pushing a strand back before she licked at her lips a moment. Sure they were both nuts for staying so long and sure they were probably going to fight and be at points where they hated each other.

Than again what couple didn't fight? Didn't have moments where they hated one another or wished they never met? All couples whether married or not had issues no relationship was ever perfect and anyone who said they were was a bloody liar. When he leaned in she slowly let her eyes flutter shut and didn't try to pull back instead she met him and his lips. Pressing hers to his softly for the moment, as her free hand slipped up to his cheek. Caressing it for a second than slipped back further to the back of his neck. Easily holding the kiss and pushing about everything else from her mind.

[knox]

Knox smiled softly when she spoke, though it vanished quickly. He wasn't sure if he really liked the sound of it. Of course he knew it was true, but that didn't mean that he had to enjoy that fact. Knox knew he wasn't the kind of guy that was meant for this sort of thing, meant to have a pretty woman on his side that he could talk to and spend time with and love. He wasn't meant to have that happy kind of life. He was a traveler and a heartbreaker.. he had been for years now, why should it stop? A large part of him didn't want that life to end, didn't want to be stuck in this town. But another part wouldn't let it go, wouldn't let him venture out even if he wanted to. That part of him wanted to stay here and try to be with Kat, try to see where things could lead and if they could lead to a happily ever after. Even though he knew it would never happen that way, he had to try at least, didn't he?

His hand rested on her cheek as he held the kiss and feeling her smaller hand shift to hold the back of his neck, he couldn't stop the faint smile that traced along his lips. He moved the hand to hold her neck, pulling her lips a little tighter against his, though he didn't deepen the kiss. Instead just held it in softness and reveled in her touch. His free hand still held loosely to hers, keeping their fingers innertwined together. Knox had nothing else that he could say for the moment, nothing that wouldn't be a repeat of something that already left his lips. He loved her and knew it was stupid but couldn't stop it. She loved him and knew the same but wouldn't stop it.

In the end it didn't matter and he didn't care. His lips brushed over hers gently as he held the kiss with her, letting every other thought seep from his mind because it didn't matter. All that mattered right now was that he had her and that he wasn't leaving.

[Katerina Night]

It was like a dream and she was left to watch it play out in her minds eye. Only to blink and realize it was indeed her at that very moment with Knox. Kissing him wish so much love that she could feel it radiating off her and that surprised the blond. Never would she ever expect to fall in love, to want someone at her side who understood and cared about her. Yet Knox was just that and probably more.

When they met she never would of thought this could happen, they both had made it perfectly clear they didn't do love. Or hell they didn't do relationships and that seemed fine. But now, now she was just shocked at all these feelings being stirred up in her heart, her mind and while is did scare her. Kat couldn't help welcoming it either honestly.

Feeling as his hand brushed through her hair to stop at her neck and hold the kiss. Normally one of them would of deepened it by now or else been working to dominate. Not this time, it was soft, caring, loving and she seemed to purr out in delight. She was happy at this moment and squeezed their joined hands a moment. Deep inside her mind praying that whatever it was giving them these feelings wouldn't rip them away. Sure this was new but Kat was finding while it scared her she wanted this, want this with Knox and no one else.

[knox]

The kiss was held, never deepened or pushed further than that simple brush of lips together. He was fine with that right now. That was more than he could ask for and honestly more than he deserved. He knew that he deserved some form of punishment for loving her, for wanting her. So far his only punishment had been the week that she didn't speak with him. That wasn't near enough for having hurt her by letting them get their hands on her. No, his punishment was still to come, be it in a day a week a month or a year it would come. The longer it took to rear it's head the more painful it was going to be and he knew that. But yet couldn't stop himself from enjoying the kiss.

His lips broke away from hers slowly to brush his fingers back through her hair, squeezing her hand with his other as his forehead came to a rest on hers. Even more slowly did his eyes open to look at her while his palm came to a rest on her cheek. Knox took in a breath and licked at his lips, unsure what to say or do now. He'd never had something like this before. Some relationship that had a bump pass. What was supposed to happen now? Even though he knew that he loved her Knox stil shuddered at the thought of the word girlfriend. He didn't know why, but he couldn't think of the word without having a chill pass through his spine.

[Katerina Night]

It was slightly odd how different they seemed to be now, instead of trying to dominate or just go straight into the sex. They were being so caring, loving almost and it had her stomach fluttering since it was just so new. Sure she had seen lovers and knew this was how some acted, but it was still so new to her and no doubt to Knox as well.

When they broke apart she sat quietly catching her breath, leaning her forehead against his. Just enjoying the feel of his hand at her cheek and squeezing her hand. A soft smile slowly working its way over her face as those green eyes opened to meet his own. Letting her fingers along his neck lightly caress against his skin a breath slipping out. "I...I think I want to go take a shower. You can join me if you like after we can work on dinner."

'What is going on? I've never been shy but damn it I sure as hell am now.' It was odd her own mind couldn't make sense of this yet she found it rather interesting this new side of herself. Leaning back to wait on his answer, her thumb brushing against his hand softly.

[knox]

Knox smiled softly in return as her eyes opened to meet with his, feeling her fingers brushing along the nape of his neck and into the hair. He leaned in and pressed another quick kiss against her lips after she spoke and shook his head gently. "How about I cook and you go take a shower." He suggested with a smile as he felt her fingers brush over his hand. Slowly he disentangled himself from her to stand and pull her to her feet with the hand that held hers. He pondered briefly on pulling away to let her go and take her shower.

Instead her released her hands and wrapped his own around her waist to pull her to him and kissed her again. His arms followed his hands to wind around her and lifted her off of her feet as his lips brushed over hers. Knox carried her like this to the door before slowly lowering her feet to the floor once more and pulling back again with a little smirk at his lips. It wasn't that he didn't want to join her in the shower, but he'd had one only three hours before and he needed a few minutes alone to think about everything that had just happened and been said between them.

[Katerina Night]

Kat kept the smile and when he spoke her eyes seemed to get brighter before she nodded some and kisses his lips a moment softly. "Mmm now that I could get use too." Although she didn't release her own hold or move till he started too and even than he pulled her up. Pulling her hand away form his neck only for his to wrap around her waist to pull her close. Returning the kiss before faint gasp of surprise slipped out when he picked her up. Still holding the kiss than slowly released her.

Those green eyes were sparkling as she giggled a little and kissed his cheek. Hesitantly releasing her hold on him finally before slipping off and back up the stairs to the room they had been using since coming to the house. Sure she wanted him to join her, but having the time alone gave her a chance to think on things as well.

Walking into the master to get some clothes and for now just grabbed one of her little gowns, bra and panties than disappeared into the bathroom. Briefly wondering what he was going to cook and bit down on her bottom lip before shaking her head. Turning the water on she let it get to the temperature she wanted deciding a shower would be the best thing. Pulling off her other clothes and slipped in under the spray allowing it to cascade down her body. Washing away some of the stress she was having and worry at least for now while her eyes closed and her hands rested on the wall.

[knox]

Knox chuckled at her words before releasing her and letting her move toward the stairs. He stared after her for a moment in thought, then turned and headed into the kitchen to search through the fridge and freezer for what to cook. He sighed as he realized that after a week of neither of them going anywhere that supplies were running low. Great. He closed the fridge and trudged out to the small garden behind the house with a bowl in hand. He knew that almost nothing was ready for picking, but at the very least there were some ripe strawberries and blueberries. After picking a small quantity he took them inside and dumped them into a collander into the sink to rinse them off then headed for the basement. There were some canned goods down there that he knew were still good.

He found a couple of cans of string beans and a can of carrots, but that wasn't what he wanted. A low sigh slipped past his lips, shaking his head again before just keeping the beans and sipping back up the stairs. Into the pantry where he found a bag of potatoes that would probably go bad soon so he grabbed a few of them and dropped them onto the counter then looked back into the freezer. Knox was a good cook, had been for years. Even when it came to a limited supply he could usually whip something decent up. Hell if he had some gravy or tomato juice he could make a stew but they lacked either. Once he found a pack of sausages in the freezer he shrugged lightly and set the beans up on the fridge and tossed the sausage into the microwave to defrost.

Knox grabbed the jar filled with bacon grease and scooped some into a skillet on the stove before turning it on a low heat then turned to start chopping the potatoes into small cubes. As he worked he thought about everything that had been said between them. A shudder passed through him as he thought the word 'girlfriend' again. That was a word he'd never had to use, never even had to think about. Knox thought about the kiss that had passed between them and the subtle hint she'd given about her shower. He thought about the way she seemed to light up at his staying here, at his cooking something. As he chopped a smile formed at his lips. Maybe this won't be so bad.. He thought to himself. Maybe things could work out.

After all, he'd been pretty happy here with her for seven weeks, the last one excluded in happiness. Why couldn't it stay that way? Of course he knew that not everything was going to be peaches and cream, not everything was going to be so simple and so easy.. but why couldn't he be happy? Why couldn't he make her happy? Why couldn't he stay here with her? I can.. And I will. He thought as another smile pulled at his lips. Knox turned and flipped on the water, running his fingers beneath the stream before flipping it back off and flicking his fingers toward the skillet filled with grease.

When he heard the familiar crackle and sizzle he knew the grease was hot enough so turned it up a little higher and dumped the potatoes into the pan. Hearing the microwave beep to signal the sausage being finished he headed toward it so that he could cut that up too to place into the pan. Whenever Kat came back down he was whistling an unfamiliar -to her anyway- tune softly while he bustled about the kitchen to cook and get the table set up for them.