Sarah smiled happily, the sun was shining down on a hot summers day in Washington DC. She lay on the river bank with her head resting in Kate's lap, while Kate calmly ran her hand through Sarah's long brown curls, both smiling brightly. Their eyes shining, happiness shining from them.
Kate smiled at her adopted daughter and stroked her cheek gently, "Your going to have to go back soon, you know that right?"
Sarah avoided eye contact, "I'm not going" she stated stubbornly
Kate sighed, "Your mother needs you my darling, you need to go back to them, you have a family now, you don't need me. You have your father and mother, that's what you wanted wasn't it?"
A tear slid down Sarah's cheek, "But I want to stay with you, If I had known that having them would cost your life, I would never have even tried to find them"
Kate nodded, "I know but none of us knew, and you have a chance to live and be happy, take it Sarah"
Sarah clung to Kate, "But I want to stay here, with you."
Kate held her close, "You've been with me longer than you should have been already, your mother needs you"
A soft noise was heard from the sky, but it wasn't from the sky, it was Ziva sitting beside Sarah's bed, whilst Sarah was in a deep coma. Where she had remained for the past six months.
Sarah cried, "Why can't you come with me?"
Kate shook her head, "It's not my place anymore, but you have to go back"
Sarah sobbed, she was scared, and she was torn between her mother and Kate.
Ziva's voice came through softly as though from the sky, "Please wake up my princess, I need you, I can't lose you again….." she cried desperately. She hadn't left the hospital since Sarah had been admitted and she blamed herself because she was driving when the lorry hit them.
Sarah looked up, "How do I get to her?"
Kate smiled, "Follow your heart" she said softly, and stood up, helping Sarah to stand too.
Sarah hugged Kate, "I miss you"
Kate smiled, "I miss you too, but I will be here for you when your ready"
Sarah smiled, hugging Kate, "I love you mom"
Kate smiled brightly, as she hugged her adoptive daughter, "I love you too my darling"
Sarah smiled and stepped back but kept hold of Kate's hands, until Kate let go. They smiled as she walked back through the mist.
Ziva smiled as her daughter's hand moved and gripped her own and her eyes fluttered open. A smile graced Sarah's lips as her mother embraced her.
She missed Kate already but the need to protect her mother and make sure her mother had happiness overcome everything else that she wanted or needed.