KARA/CAROLINE

You try telling Catherine that we needed to wait a day before we go buy paint.

I'd probably have better luck at hand-to-hand combat with a tyrannosaurus.

William put it in her head that the two of us should go get paint in town together and have some girl chat time about her honeymoon. He spoke the thought with a smirking wink to me. Jerk knew he was dooming me. After that there was no convincing her that I needed to heal the werecreatures at Fremont first.

That must be how Will was choosing to get me to pace myself. The 'I can't dictate when you feel good enough to heal' thing was already out the window.

But I guess I owed him, dragging him on a six hour trip the day before.

Didn't mean I had to like it.

So, that's why I was kidnapped, passenger side of Blake's SUV, heading to the hardware store instead of Fremont while Catherine grooved out at the steering wheel to the radio.

Still, as we came off the mountain, my eyes darted toward the woods where I had abandoned a car to run to the cavern.

"Don't even think about it girly," Catherine commanded and noisily clicked the door locks, making it extra obvious no escape would be possible.

"How'd you even know about that?" I turned to her.

She grinned, painted lips as red as her hair. "William gave me the heads up while you went to the bathroom."

I scowled. I was going to have to have a talk with him about throwing me under the bus.

She just laughed. "Oh come on. This is fun. I haven't seen you in a week. I went for a honeymoon, you got shot and abducted, and don't forget you almost getting married. I want all the gossip!"

"'Almost getting married'? I was almost bled dry by a mad man and you focus on that I just tried to get a marriage certificate?" I shook my head, but I had to admit to myself I did miss her. She was always so upbeat about everything.

"Of course I'm focusing on that! You refused to hear of anything wedding plan-esque for the last two months and you jumped in faster than me and Blake. I'm so never letting you live that down."

I chuckled, "okay, okay. Yes. I'm happy with William."

She squealed. "I know! Aren't our wolves the very best?"

"Yeah," I conceded. "They're pretty great."

We were quiet for a minute as we both had warmed hearts thinking of our other halves.

After a few minutes, she spoke softly. "I'm sorry about the bachelorette party."

I turned to her in question.

She sighed, eyes watching the road. "I shouldn't have agreed to leave without you. I was just so excited to be married that everything became a blur. I didn't even think about hurting your feelings. So, I'm sorry."

Nodding, I gave a forced smile. "It's okay. It all worked out. Heck, that's when I met William so it was probably some fate play anyway."

"What?" She momentarily twisted to me, a grin developing. "Really? What happened?"

I giggled and spent the next few minutes animatedly telling the story. She held onto every word then burst out laughing. "You told us you got lost driving."

I tried to hold back a smile. "You really think I was going to tell a bunch of drunk ladies that I let some hot dude bite me after another hot dude sniffed me up?"

"That's so funny." Her head shook with glee and then she softened. "I don't know if I would have believed you or not. I mean I knew what they were, but you getting cornered and marked, I would never have guessed that."

I shrugged and then wiggled my fingers like magic. "Fate works in mysterious ways."

She smiled over to me. "Well, either way, I'm sorry that we left without you."

"It's okay. You're forgiven."

She then bit her lip, a mischievous smile forming.

"What?" I grinned back.

"Annnd," she started slowly, "I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make a girl's drinking night up to you."

I chuckled. "Why would I need a drinking night?"

"Shut up, I'm trying to talk here."

I burst out laughing. "Oh. Okay, sorry." I zipped my lips.

She sat tall against the wheel, a smirk on her face. "So... I'm sorry, but we won't be able to go drinking for at least nine months. I'm pregnant!"

My stomach hit the chair. "What! Oh my gosh! Really? No way!"

"Yes! We found out two days ago. Isn't this so exciting?!"

"Yes! Yes it is. Oh my gosh, I'm so happy for you."

"We're having Blake's family over for dinner tonight. We're going to tell them then. We haven't told anyone else because I wanted to tell you first. We haven't decided how to tell my family yet."

"That's so exciting. So when are you due?"

"March fourth."

"A spring baby. That's so sweet," I gushed.

"Yep." She then set her eyes on me and wiggled her brows. "So when are you and Willy going to start?"

My face paled when her meaning struck. "Oh, uh, I don't know. We haven't talked about it."

I guess that wasn't completely accurate. William was quite clear he would be okay with kids soon.

She reached over and grabbed my hand, squeezing hard. "Carol! I mean... Kara! We have to have babies together! Then they can be best friends." She side eyed my stomach. "Maybe you already are?"

"What, no!" I sat tall in worry and yanked my hand back covering over my belly.

She wondered aloud speaking a little provocatively, "well, I know you talked about a late night rendezvous before. Were you using protection? Hmm?"

"Hey," I complained. "That's none of your business."

She got contemplative. "So that's a no." She beamed over to me. "So you could be!"

"No! No I'm not," I spoke adamant, and then announced hushed, "if you must know," goodness this was so embarrassing. Even living with the girl I never wanted to talk about womanly time. "Flo started today anyway. She's been a little hesitant, but stress always causes me irregularities and you have to admit that my last week has been very stressful."

She pouted. "Okay, fine. But you two need to start trying right away. I want to be pregnant together."

I finally started a grin and leaned my head back at the rest. "We'll see."

"We'll see always means no," she frowned.

"Well, you're being ridiculous. Me and Will have barely known each other a week."

"Eh," she shrugged. "Your time's a tickin' girl. You'll be begging for his babies soon enough."

"Catherine!" I laughed and hit her arm.

She giggled.

We went quiet for a few moments and then I bit my lip trying to figure out how to ask.

"What do you want Carol?" She asked flatly, as we came into town.

I grinned.

"Yes, I know you. What do you want?" She looked over keenly.

"Okay," I started delicately. "So you got your degree in computer programming. How much skill does it take to find an old address from a social security number? Do you think you could do it?"

Her head tilted, red hair shifting, as she contemplated. "Well, Blake really is more of a hacker than me. But... I think with enough time I could figure it out." Her eyes got wide and enthusiastic. "What are we doing? Something illegal I hope."

I laughed, "no. Nothing bad... I think. I just want to find someone."

"Oooh, old boyfriend? Let William kick his trash?" She turned right, following the GPS instructions.

"No, stop," I insisted with a chuckle, then got serious, "okay, so one of those military henchmen guys in the cave said his mom was fighting cancer. I want to heal her."

Her head flicked with doubt. "What? Carol. No. You want to heal someone for one of the jerks that tied you up? No way!"

I sighed. "I know, it's stupid. I just feel like he was desperate. Maybe under normal circumstances he wouldn't have taken the job. He just really wanted his mom cured."

Catherine grumbled under her breath. "Yeah, I guess I know what you mean. People do stupid stuff when they're desperate." She centered herself for a second. "Yeah alright. I'll try to find her."

"Thank you," I said sincerely.

Her eyes came at me then, pointer finger up in the air. "But you'll owe me. And in return..." she put her hand back to the wheel and paused for dramatic effect, "I demand that you and William... get busyyyy!"

"Catherine!" I laughed and smacked her again.

She just cackled and took the blows, pulling into the hardware store lot.