Kat and Patrick had both been walking around all day in a blissful daze. Currently, they were sitting on the couch. Patrick had his feet up on the coffee table and one arm around Kat, who was snuggled up close to him with her feet curled underneath her. They were flipping though one of Bianca's magazines making fun of the articles.

"Five ways to firm your butt," Kat read.

"Just what I was hoping to do this week," Patrick quipped.

"Kat?" Walter called from the kitchen. Kat groaned.

"Yes?" She called back.

"Come set the table for dinner!"

Kat disentangled herself from Patrick with a quick kiss. "You're not leaving before dinner, are you?" she asked him. Walter had made it clear Patrick was welcome only as long as Kat was being punished, and the baby had been switched off that afternoon.

"It's not one of your tofu dishes, is it?" he asked.

Kat laughed. "No, don't worry. My dad made lasagna I think."

Patrick shrugged and nodded, "I guess I can stick around for that."

Kat nodded and went to go set four places for dinner.

In the kitchen, Walter couldn't help but notice his daughter humming and smiling while gathered the dishes and brought them to the dining room. In fact, she had been acting strangely all day, he reflected. He was just considering whether or not he should make her take a drug test when Bianca entered the kitchen. She followed Walter's gaze to Kat and smiled. "It's kind of cute, isn't it? I mean, it just goes to show there really is someone for everyone. Even a socially maladjusted freak like Kat."

"Bianca, be nice," Walter scolded, then paused. "What are you talking about. Do you know why Kat's acting this way? Shouldn't she be wallowing in misery, deeply regretting ever meeting that man-boy and especially regretting...her misconduct from last week?"

Bianca smirked, "Oh daddy, that's cute. You really think that, don't you? I mean, don't get me wrong. It was a totally ingenious punishment. And I think you've seriously decreased your chances of ever having grandchildren. But, Kat's not regretting meeting Patrick, that's for sure." She lowered her voice as if sharing some great secret. Now that her and Joey were back together, she was back to thinking of the whole world as a romantic comedy, and she was excited to see how her sister's story would play out. "They said 'I love you' for the first time yesterday!" she squealed.

"What?" Walter asked, obviously less than thrilled. He thought he might prefer if she had been on drugs.

"Yeah, in the grocery store yesterday. It was so romantic. I mean, for them. They were fighting, and...and he just blurted it out, like he didn't want to say it, he had to say it, y'know?"

Just then, Kat came in and announced the table was ready. "Patrick's going to stay for dinner, if that's okay with you," she said, kissing her dad on the cheek. Walter could only nod. He was still shell-shocked from this new revelation.

Walter, Kat and Patrick were all very quiet during dinner. Bianca was more than willing to keep up the conversation, however, and all in all the meal went by quite quickly. As Bianca and Kat cleared the table, Walter stood up. "Patrick," he said gruffly, "Can I see you in my office?" Patrick glanced, wide-eyed, at Kat, who could only shrug. He nodded and followed Walter in, who shut the door behind them.

"What's that about?" Kat asked her sister.

"Don't ask me," she replied. Then, letting out a small chuckle, added, "Maybe they're discussing your dowry!"

Kat glared, but then laughed. She was in too good of a mood to argue.

In the office, Walter sat behind his desk, and motioned for Patrick to take a seat as well. They sat in silence for a minute or two, and Patrick nervously drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. "Listen-" he started, but Walter chose that moment to speak.

"I hear you and Kat have reached...a new plateau in your relationship."

Patrick grinned, "I guess if you want to call it that."

Walter leaned forward in his chair, "If you hurt my daughter," he growled, "I will hurt you."

Patrick raised his eyebrows. "I believe you," he said. "But, I don't plan on hurting Kat. I meant what I said."

"I want to believe you," Walter said, leaning back. His voice had softened. "I guess...I just don't like thinking that my little cactus is almost grown, and falling in love. I want to protect her."

"Your little what?"

"Never mind. Just, tell me that you'll be good to her."

Patrick leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. He thought for a minute; he wasn't good at expressing himself but he really wanted to say the right thing here. It could determine whether or not Kat was ever allowed to see him again. Finally, he started, "I have never said 'I love you' to a girl before. I just want you to know, it's not something I just say to...you know, get what I want." This seemed to be the right thing to say, because Walter gave a (very small) smile, and stood up, indicating that he was done with the inquisition. He shook Patrick's hand on the way out.

As they exited the room, Walter put a hand on Patrick's shoulder and held him back for a minute for one last word of advice. "And don't think I missed all your little window shenanigans," Walter said. "Kat's door is coming off tonight and her window is being bolted shut."

That night, as Kat was falling asleep, she reflected on the week. She knew what she was supposed to learn from her father's punishment; she was supposed to learn that sex was evil and Patrick was a selfish person who would abandon her the second things got rough. But her father was wrong. More than just saying how he felt about her (which he also did, and which she still couldn't stop smiling over), Patrick had proved how he felt about her. She might still be in hot water with her father, and the entire student body of Padua High still hated her, but the only thing that she was upset about was that her window was bolted shut so Patrick couldn't sneak in.

End Note: Well, that's it for this story! I'm thinking I'll continue the series with what happens when Kat gets back to school, with all of Padua High hating her guts. But I also have other story ideas, so...we'll see what I end up writing first. Anyway, thanks so much for all the reviews and comments guys! I hope you'll stick around for my future stories!