I'm not cheating on my other fic, I just have a little fanfiction problem (is there an F.A group anywhere?).
Hope you like this.
I don't own the characters etc.
Chapter 1
-Nick-
Things in Nick's life weren't perfect but they were getting better. He was doing well at his job, spending time with his son, talking as much as possible with his daughter. And things with Amanda were going great too. At work they did the best they could to hide it and kept their distance, but when they were alone at her or at his place they got as close as possible.
Yes, things were getting better but that was about to change. He didn't know it yet, but there was something he was going to lose.
And he wouldn't see it coming.
Nick glanced at the clock on his phone. It was still early and he turned to look at Amanda, she was sleeping next to him.
Lying on her stomach, she was half covered with the blanket, leaving her back bare. He reached to caress it gently with his hand. He didn't want to wake her up, but it felt so good to be close to her, to watch her body move as she breathed. Her skin felt soft so he moved closer to her and gave her a light kiss on her shoulder.
She stirred a little and he moved away, only to lay his head next to hers.
He knew she would wake up soon. She usually woke up early, as she had a trusty alarm clock named Frannie who, in case Amanda felt like sleeping in or just staying in bed a little longer, would climb on the bed and made sure her owner got up. Nick got that wake up greeting before, and not that he minded, he loved Frannie. But he would rather be kissed by Amanda.
He didn't have to worry about that now as he could see she was slowly waking up. She stretched a little and then turned around, sensing he was near her. She closed the small gap between them and her lips touched the skin above his collar bone as his arms moved around her so he could feel her closer.
"Morning" she mumbled, her lips not moving away from his skin.
"Morning" he replied, caressing her hair and looking down at her. She moved up a bit and gave him a kiss on his lips.
"What?" she asked as she pulled away, looking at the smile displayed all over his face. He shrugged a little and kept smiling.
"We should get up" she told him while sitting up "no time to fool around"
"Not even in the shower?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Mmm…" she narrowed her eyes a little, as if she was thinking about it but then she grabbed his hand and pulled him after her.
A little while later they were at her kitchen, having some light breakfast. She was already dressed for work and Nick was wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
"Coffee?" she asked pouring herself some.
"No thanks" he said.
She took a sip and frowned, spitting the coffee back into the cup "awful" she spilled the coffee into the sink "I think it has gone bad"
He smiled at her expression "you drink way too much coffee anyway" he commented.
"Thanks" Amanda rolled her eyes at him a little bit, but she had a smile "I'll buy some later" she took a bite of her toast.
He finished his food and washed his plate and the empty cup of coffee Amanda placed in the sink just a moment earlier.
He leaned against the counter and watched her as she finished eating.
"Let me" he took the plate from her and she thanked him.
"I'm gonna take Frannie for a walk, you gonna to go back home?" she asked.
"Yeah" he nodded as he finished washing her plate.
They looked at each other for a moment and then he walked over to her and kissed her "have a good day at work"
"Have a good day off" she replied "and a good weekend"
"I will" he smiled "you too"
"Have fun with Zara" she smiled at him and this time she kissed him.
Nick and Amanda rarely spent the weekends apart. During the week they were focused on work and he usually didn't spend the night at her place.
But they had the weekends to themselves, usually spending them at her place. Not only in bed though.
But this weekend was different.
Zara had a long weekend and Maria was bringing her to visit him. Their plan had been to visit Maria's parents in D.C first and then bring her to Nick so they could spend most of the weekend together. The flight back was scheduled to Sunday evening.
Nick hadn't seen her since they moved to L.A and he was very happy to spend time with her not on Skype. Unfortunately Gil wasn't in town this weekend since he went with Cynthia to visit her mom, so he couldn't spent the weekend with both his children.
But he took what he could get.
He took the day off so he could get his house ready for Zara's visit. Maria called him when they got to D.C and Zara was excited to talk to him, asking him what he had planned for them and he happily told her.
She seemed so grown up when they finally arrived. Maria wished them a good weekend and drove away. Things between Nick and Maria were civil, they weren't friends but they weren't arguing, not as much as they used to.
His mother came over and they've spent the afternoon together. Zara missed both her grandmother and her father very much, as much as they missed her. She shared stories about her school and friends, about her activities and hobbies and the trip to Disneyland she took with her mom two weeks before. Even though Nick had already heard everything about it he didn't mind her sharing again.
She seemed to love L.A, but Zara got used to places fast so Nick wasn't surprised she liked it there. She was friendly and outgoing. More like her mother actually, since Nick was a suspicious man and didn't trust people easily. A part of him was glad about it, he didn't want his daughter growing up afraid of others, but another part was afraid she might be too trusting.
The weekend went by too fast.
They watched a movie together, went to what used to be their favorite diner. Played baseball in central park and just had fun together.
He did miss Amanda, but since spending time with his daughter was so rare, they both decided he should spend all his time with her.
It was tough for both of them when Sunday had arrived, they ate breakfast and watched cartoons until Maria picked her up. He gave her a big hug and told her how much he misses and loves her.
"I love you too daddy" she said.
"Te adoro" he said when he let her go.
"Thanks for bringing her over" he told Maria.
"Sure" she nodded "she misses you"
"Yeah" he said quietly "things are fine for you back there?" he asked.
"It's great" Maria answered. It was a little awkward so they said their goodbyes.
He watched them as they walked away. Missing Zara already.
They had some time as their flight was pushed back a little so Maria and Zara ate something at a small restaurant Maria liked while she was still living in New York.
"Can I get a candy from the machine now mom?" Zara asked, they passed the machine on the way to the restaurant and Maria promised she could have one after she ate.
"Here" she gave her a coin for the machine "buy one and come back straight here, I'm gonna go to the bathroom for a moment"
"Ok mom" she said before walking outside.
Maria smiled at her before she walked to the bathroom, they didn't have a lot of time left before they had to be in the airport.
Amanda didn't answer when he called her, he figured she was busy, maybe caught a meeting like she did many Sunday nights.
He took a quick shower and made himself a snack when his phone rang. He hoped it was Amanda as he really wanted to talk to her.
But it wasn't.
"Maria?" he asked "what's going on?"
"Nick" her voice was strained "it's Zara, she's gone"
