NOTE: “Matthew Hammond” has been changed to “Patrick Hammond”. I didn’t want any confusion between this Matt and the Matt that JC’s girlf was cheating on him with in “Turn”. Got it? It hasn’t been corrected in chapters 1 and 2 yet but will soon.

“Did you forget your toothbrush, too, Mr. Hammond?” Kat smiled.

“Pat, please,” Patrick insisted. “No, actually I was looking for something to send home to my mom. She’s never been to New York.”

“Oh how sweet,” Kat replied, turning to pick up a toothbrush off the rack.

“Yeah, but don’t mention it to the guys. It’s hard to see a momma’s boy as an authority figure.”

“Are you kidding me?” Kat laughed. “There ain’t one guy in that group that’s not a momma’s boy. It might actually help you fit in better.”

“Well, no offense to the guys, but I’m not here to fit in with them,” Patrick shook his head, absentmindedly flipping through a postcard stand.

“Then what are you here for, Mr. Hammond?” Kat posed, eyebrow raised.

“I have a job to do, Miss McBride, just like everyone here,” he replied, his tone revealing nothing, but the fact that he was about to change the subject. “That’s a fetching assemble you have on there,” he laughed lightly, regarding JC’s pajama’s which where hanging off her body.

“Like it?” she grinned. “It’s all the rage. Everyone will be wearing JC’s pajama’s come spring.”

“That’s some sense of humor you’ve got there, Kat,” he smiled. “I can tell now what JC sees in you.”

Something in the way he smiled at her just then made her uncomfortable, but she shrugged it off. “Thanks. I’m going to go check out so I guess I’ll see you later. Good luck finding something for your mom,” she smiled politely before walking towards the register.

“Well, actually,” he called out after her cause her to stop and turn around, “I was hoping you’d help me out. It’d really help me out to get a woman’s opinion.”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” she replied, trying to sound regretful while getting out of there as quickly as possible. “JC’s waiting for me upstairs. Besides, I have horrible taste in gift shop fare. If it were up to me, I’d have you buy that inflatable Empire State Building.”

“JC, huh?” he nodded, bowing his head slightly. “So I’m sure you guys had fun last night. Eh, Kat?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Well it’s not like you guys spent the night playing Lincoln Logs. I was just saying…”

She knew very well what he was ‘just saying.’ Just when she was starting to wonder what the guys’ problem with Patrick was, he showed the side JC had been telling her about. “Well, if you’ll excuse me,” she said trying to appear unrattled before turning and checking out quickly.

Kat didn’t think much of her encounter with Patrick Hammond on her trip upstairs. A much too unpleasant thought had sprung into her head to be bothered by the immature insinuations of someone of no viable consequence to her. It was Sunday, she realized. She had a standing date with the devil.

Sunday brunch in the Da Nate household was an exercise in futility.

Kat couldn’t help but shake her head in awe and wonder as JC, not only said it was ok that she had to go, but actually seemed very much into going with her. She hadn’t planned on submitting him to the torture she endured every Sunday, but since he was volunteering, misery loved company.

After she showered in JC’s room, they headed back to her dorm so she could find something ‘presentable’ to wear. The black ribbed turtleneck and gray tailored slacks she eventually ended up wearing did nothing to calm her insecurities. Charlotte always, without exception, had a comment about whatever she wore.

Kat never really had much to say about her family to JC other than complaining about Abigail’s latest remark or the Nordic Ice Princess’s new and improved efforts to make her feel like a second class citizen. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out why she subjected herself to these weekly torments. She told him once that she did it because until she graduated and got herself a job, she had no place to go when school wasn’t in session. She’d said she thought it best to put up with what she had to until she could get out of there. But still, he could tell that wasn’t it. Maybe it was part of the reason, but there was something else there- some misguided loyalty or, even love. He just couldn’t wrap his mind around it. Not until he attended this particular early October brunch, that is.

From the moment they sat down at the table, it became clear that there were two very distinct reasons why Kat kept crossing the threshold of the Da Nate residence. The first, he should have known. Daphne. As much as the little girl adored her big sister, Kat adored her right back. She would play it off when she’d tell him about her- a defense mechanism that’d been in place since Beth and Cecilia had turned their backs on her. But seeing Kat with her sister, JC was certain the child had a lot to do with why Kat allowed herself to be stepped on every week.

The second reason was as surprising to JC as it was unapparent to the naked eye. She came for her father. She didn’t talk about him much. He could her the pain in her voice when she did, though. As much as she felt hurt and betrayed by this man, she yearned so desperately for his love and acceptance. That was one thing that became all too obvious to him, watching her that day. It pained him to know that if he noticed, there was no doubt that Charlotte noticed as well and probably used it to her full advantage.

“Well, it’s not everyday Kathryn brings a friend home,” Charlotte smiled her reptile-cool smile.

Kat couldn’t help but shudder at the word home. “I wonder why,” she said under her breath, but not low enough.

“Did you say something, sis?”

Sis? Kat looked at Abby like she’d lost her mind. Her voice was pleasant and gasp even friendly. All she could do was shake her head and toss a confused glance at JC. Then it all came together. JC. Bring an outsider to the table- let alone a famous outsider- and her wicked pseudo-family turned into the damn Clevers.

“So, Kathryn, how is that little play going?”

Kat head shot up, the surprise and hope and in eyes almost painful for JC to see. Her father had just asked her about something she was involved in- not did she need money or if she'd gotten another ‘failure’ of a B+ grade in school. He was expressing interest in something that mattered to her.

“Well it’s—”

The shrill ring of a cell phone combined with the single finger Andrew held up as he answered it cut Kat off mid-thought.

“No Don, that’s twenty thousand more than we agreed on,” Andrew argued smoothly into his cell, subsequently covering his cup with his palm as Marta, one of their servants, approached him with the coffee pot.

“Andrew, darling, no phone at the table,” Charlotte laughed, patting her husband’s knee under the table before turning back to table.

Since when? Kat thought, shaking her head, the same look of disbelief plastered on her face. She almost laughed out loud when she saw the same look pass over her father’s face for a brief moment before he returned to his conversation, never missing a step. At least he had the decency to be the same obliviously rude asshole he always was. “We have just entered the twilight zone,” she whispered to JC, making him chuckle lightly.

“Kathryn, dear, no whispering at the table,” Charlotte chastised gently. “It’s rude.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled, stifling a laugh. She was suddenly seeing the potential this situation held for her. “So, Abby, I was thinking we could go down to the Village some day after school next week. I saw these really cute medallion necklaces that say ‘sisters’. Naturally I thought of you,” Kat beamed, eagerly awaiting how Abigail would handle their new-found sisterly bond.

“Well, I, uh,” Abby stuttered, after having almost spit up her orange juice.

Kat’s smile never wavered, thoroughly enjoying the discomfort she’d just induced as everyone at the table stared at Abigail. “Great! How’s Wednesday for you?”

“Um, well, I don’t think—”

“Perfect! I’m so excited, aren’t you?”

Abigail stared across the table, attempting to curb the look of shock and horror that was seeping into her features.

“Yes, wouldn’t that be nice, Abigail?” Charlotte directed to her eldest, giving her a hard stare.

“Sure,” she got out through gritted teeth and a tight smile, glancing at JC before bowing her head to concentrate on her meal and avoid eye contact with a very smug Kat.

“Excuse me,” Andrew mumbled rising from his seat and tossing his napkin on the table, obviously disturbed by the chatter.

“You know, I knew you’d think I would be a great idea,” Kat directed to Charlotte after her eyes followed her father out of the room. She knew she’s pay for this later, but this was just too good to past up. “I mean, ever since Mom moved back overseas, you’ve really been like a surrogate mother to me. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all the love and patience you’ve shown me for the past few years. In fact, I was just telling JC on our way over how much I appreciate everything this family’s done for me. Isn’t that right JC?”

“Oh, she’s in tears every time she talks about the way you folks treat her,” JC played along reluctantly, the double meaning lost on everyone but Kat.

“You’ve really treated me like one of your own, and for that, I’d really like to do something to thank you,” she continued, a warm smile adorning her face as she looked at her step-mother. The only hint at her true feelings came in the form of a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“Oh, no, I don’t think that’s necessary, Kathryn,” Charlotte got out, wondering what the little thorn in her side was getting at.

“I know, how about I take you out to eat one night, just the two of us. I know this great pizzeria down on 37th street,” she smiled, stressing the neighborhood. “I know what a fan you are of greasy pizzerias. Why, we used to go that place in Times Square twice a week when I lived here. Oh, JC, those were just my best memories of living here year-round. We’d talk about how I was doing in school and my friends, and my boyfriends. Whata lady, my step-mom, is,” Kat finished her speech, a bitter twinge sneaking through, completely intentionally. Her gaze never wavered from her stepmother’s, which had glazed over to her normal icy consistency.

“You never did any of that with my mother,” seven-year-old Cecilia piped up, indignantly.

“Cecelia…” Charlotte warned.

“What? She’s lying. You’d never do any of that with her. You don’t even like pizza! Why are you letting her lie? You said she wasn’t even worth—”

“Cecilia!” Charlotte raised her voice sternly before recovering her cool composure. “You’re being rude in front of our guest.”

“I don’t care!” By now the livid little girl was out of her seat. “You said she wasn’t worth our time. You said she’d be mean to us if we we’re mean to her first and now you’re being nice to her! You said she said we were—”

“That’s it young lady. Go to your room,” Charlotte commanded. “I’m so sorry,” she said to JC. “She’s a little high-strung. You know how little girls can be, I’m sure.”

JC only nodded. He’d been sitting in shock and offering up a silent prayer of thanks for the family God had given him. The entire situation had been surreal. He had no idea had Kat managed to come out of this house the beautiful person he knew her as. He looked over to Kat. He knew she’d been enjoying the opportunity his presence had given her. That enjoyment ended abruptly with Cecelia’s outburst. The hurt was plain on her face and he wanted nothing more at that moment than to protect her from anything that could bring her so much pain. But he knew he couldn’t protect her from what was going on in her own head. What he could do, however, was at that very moment take her out of there and spend the rest of the day helping her to, at least temporarily, forget what had happened that day, and everyday before that had been spent in that house.

Glancing at his watch, JC cleared his throat and gave Kat a wink before speaking up. “Well, I’m sorry to have to leave so early but I promised Kat I’d show her around the studio today and we have to be there by 2.”

“Why 2?” Charlotte wasn’t going to make their exit easy.

“Well, we don’t start recording until tomorrow but a friend of mine said he’d hold a studio until 2 today if I wanted to get in early and play around.” It was a good thing that was the truth, considering JC couldn’t lie to save his ass.

“I see,” Charlotte said as the three stood. “Well, it was a pleasure to meet you JC and Kat, we’ll discuss our plans later on.”

“I’m sure we will,” Kat smirked, cringing inwardly as JC let her out of the room, his hand protectively against the small of her back.

“Marta will show you out,” Charlotte said crisply, sitting back down.

When they got out into the hall, they found Andrew pacing, still on the phone. When he noticed them, he covered the phone momentarily to shake JC’s hand and nod in Kat’s direction with a mumbled, “See you next weekend,” thrown in for good measure.

Kat’s face fell once again, and JC’s chest tightened to see her that way. As soon as they were out of Andrew’s ear-shot, Marta smiled at Kat.

“They certainly were in rare form, today,” the young woman said through a light German accent.

“Indeed,” Kat laughed. “Tell Mrs. M. that I’ll talk to her next week and I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to pop in today, ok Marta?”

“I’ll tell her,” she confirmed. “Nice to meet you Mr. JC.”

“Just plain JC,” he laughed extending his hand her. “Nice to meet you as well.”

As they walked onto the elevator to take them down the countless floors of the Da Nate building, JC reached down to capture her hand in his. She needed to know she wasn’t alone and wouldn't be as long as he something to say about it.

“I never realized how technical this whole process was,” Kat said in awe, eying the expanse of buttons and switches before her.

“Yeah, it’s kind of overwhelming when you don’t know what you’re doing but I’ve been learning little by little. I think if I had to pick a favorite place to just come and chill and zone out, it would have to be here… well not here here but a recording studio.”

She smiled at the way he seemed to come alive the moment he walking into the room. His demeanor became playful and intense at the same time. It was a side she’d yet to see of him, but a side she hoped to see quite a bit of in the future.

“Come here,” he coaxed, taking her hand pulling her down onto his lap. “Jake said someone left some warm-up tracks in here from a session this morning that we can play around with.” He placed a set of earphones on her head and started to run one of the tracks that had been left behind.

Kat smiled when she recognized the song. The recording was raw but the sweet throaty woman’s voice that came over was very impressive. There was a single acoustic guitar accompanying her that added to the charm of the cover of the old James Taylor song.

Kat slid off JC’s lap into a chair right beside him, listening as he tweaked at the board, cleaning up the sound, backing off in places where he thought he’d pushed too far or pushing further where he thought he’d backed off too soon.

She saw his lips moving slightly, not so much singing along but following what he was hearing. She discreetly slid her headphones off and listened to him half hum, half sing, smiling quietly.

By the end of the song, she was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, listening to him, and realizing that this was this first time she’d heard him sing in person. It wasn’t one of his songs. His voice wasn’t as smooth and confident as she’d always heard it. It was soft and tentative as if the words were coming back to him as he sang. It was real. It was honest.

She knew as she watched him fiddle with the controls on the board, the intense look he had, the way the song seemed to drip from his lips… she knew she was falling. She knew what she’d been doubting would ever happen to her again was happening. In that moment when he looked up at her, surprised to see she’d been listening to him and not the recording, she knew she was going to fall in love with this man. And she was going to fall hard.

“You don’t want to listen?”

“I am listening,” she said her eyes, normally a crisp clear blue, soft and cloudy. She rocked slightly, her knees still tucked underneath her chin.

Her body language wasn’t lost on JC. As she slowly lowed her legs back down to the floor, his eyes never left hers, taking on a similar hazy texture. He took his own headphones off, letting them dangle off the side of a nearby table. “What’s going on up there, kid?” he asked softly, his right hand grazing the side of her face as his left grasped the bottom lip of her chair and pulled her closer.

All she did was shrug before turning her face away from his. He was so close she could very distinctly feel his warm breath on her face. “So what does this one do?” she asked fingering a particularly large switch.

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice nothing more than a whisper.

Kat shivered slightly, feeling the soft tip of his nose brush her jaw line only a moment before his lips began to nibble the same spot. “You do so,” she said.

He smiled to hear her voice was as soft and strained as his own, as he moved his hand to capture the back of her neck, hoping to coax her to turn her head back. “Mmmmhmmm,” he breathed. “But I don’t care.” His lips moved against her skin and he could feel her shudder under his touch.

“You wanna know something?” she asked, reveling in the feel of his hands and lips, and breath and…

“You smell so incredible,” he whispered absently. “Know what?”

“I don’t care either,” she said, turning the face him. She audibly gasped as her eyes crashed into his. Her hands timidly crept up his chest, feeling the subtly shaky rise and fall of his breathing. His eyes fell to her mouth, as one of her hands reached up, tracing his pouty lips. “JC…”

His name falling breathily off her lips was all the invitation he needed. Their lips met softly at first, but neither was ready to settle for the hesitant contact. One hand cupped her face and the other cradled her neck as her held her face away from his for a moment, his eyes dilating as they passed over her face. Before she knew what happened, his lips had slid over hers, devouring them. She didn’t protest, parting her lips in response the teasing sensations of his tongue running along her bottom lip.

His right hand traveled down her side, finding the hem of white tank and gently untucking it. She arched her back at the feel of his warm hands on the bare skin of her back, increasing the pressure of the kiss.

Her smell, her touch, her lips, everything about her was intoxicating to him. He knew things could get out of hand real fast and they easily would have, if they hadn’t heard…

“Ahem,” Jake cleared his throat. JC looked up to see his friend averting his eyes from the scene before him.

Kat mouth dropped as she rested her forehead against JC’s chest.

“Time up, buddy,” Jake said still staring off into space.

“Thanks, man,” JC nodded, more grateful for the interruption than embarrassed.

Jake shook his head uncomfortably and slipped out of the room.

Kat looked up at JC, her cheeks tinted red, and began laughing uncontrollably.

He looked at her funny for only a moment before her contagious laughter spread to him. “We gotta get out of here,” he shook his head. He stood up, holding both of her hands and pulling her up with him. “You’re a bad influence,” he chuckled.

“Me?” she said incredulously. “All I was trying to do was learn a little sumthin’ about the music biz, baby.”

“Yeah, right. I saw you. You weren’t even listening to me. You were checking me out,” he accused playfully, pulling her to his side and they left the room.

“I don’t think so buddy…”

They continued to argue as they made their way out of Battery Studios, collecting Mel from the lounge but never skipping a beat. As they waited for the car to pick them up, JC looked down at their joined hands. He was running toward the same intense feelings that had scared him when they first met. Now, he knew what he wanted. He wanted the feeling that had overcome him so completely to never end. He was falling in love, perhaps for the first time.

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