A/N: Okay guys, first off I'm extremely sorry for the lack of updates! It just gets discouraging, then I have to break the chapters up and name them. Plus I'm volunteering again and looking for a new job.

Hopes and Dreams

by: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmaters

Ch. 1: Cling

The past two years since Ashlynn's birth had certainly been hectic. Their daughter was full of so much energy all the time and some days it was a struggle to keep up, not to mention her annoying reply of 'Why?' to anything they asked her.

However, in the last few months things had calmed down considerably since they'd put Ashlynn into daycare so they could both return to work.

Catherine and Sara had spent a while debating whether or not to have any more children, and with the redhead desperate to carry again before her time was up, they'd been to the clinic two months ago for treatment.

The day they were told they could do the test was fast approaching and Catherine was more nervous than ever.

"You ready to go?" she asked Sara, entering the kitchen with Ashlynn. If they didn't leave soon, they'd be late for work.

Sara nodded, giving Ashjlynn a baggie of cereal, grabbing a couple pieces of fruit for them, kissing the toddler's cheek. "Hi sweetie."

"Hi Mommy!" she grinned, reaching for Sara.

Sara smiled, grabbing Ashlynn from Catherine. "Where's Mr. Snuggles?" she asked. "Don't you want to bring him?" Mr. Snuggles was what Ashlynn had named her extremely soft brown and pink teddy bear. She carried him everwhere.

"TV," Ashlynn said with a nod. Anything that was in the living room was referred to a TV.

"I'll get the car started," Catherine smiled, kissing Sara's cheek. When she sat in the driver's seat, the redhead touched her stomach hopefully as she did every day, then sighed. Nerves were getting the better of her.

Sara walked out into the living room. She pulled the bear from under the couch, handing him to Ashlynn. "There. Let's go," she said, going to the car and buckling the toddler into her car seat before sitting beside Catherine. She rested a hand on her wife's stomach. "It's ok."

Catherine gave a small smile as she nodded, reversing out into the road. "I just never thought I'd get this chance again."

Sara leaned over, kissing her cheek. "It'll happen. Just try not to stress yourself out."

"I'm trying," Catherine smiled, driving them to drop Ashlynn off. "Are you running her in, or do you want me to? We only have a spare two minutes."

Sara unbucked. "I'll do it," she said, grabbing Ashlynn from her seat, the diaper bag, Mr. Snuggles and her breakfast and going in quickly.

"Mommy stay!" Ashlynn protested, refusing to let go of Sara.

Sara sighed, hugging her tightly. "Baby girl, Mommy can't stay. Mommy has to work so we can eat and get new clothes and toys. But we'll be back for you."

Ashlynn hugged her before slowly letting go. "Promise?"

Sara smiled. "I promise. Can I have a kiss?"

Ashlynn nodded then kissed Sara's lips.

"Aww! Thank you," she said, kissing her. "We love you."

"Love you Mommy," Ashlynn smiled, running to play with her friend.

"I love you too." Sara smiled, running out the door and getting back in beside Catherine. "Let's go."

Catherine took Sara's hand as they walked inside the lab. "You really think it'll be ok?"

Sara stopped inside, closing the door and holding her gently. "I do," she said, stroking her cheek. "Because I believe in us and you. It's going to work."

Catherine smiled, kissing her softly. "Two more days."

Sara smiled. "Mhm...just two."

"Then we'd better get to work so it'll come 'round sooner."

"Yeah," Sara said, letting go. "Let me know when you want to go to lunch."

Catherine nodded, kissing Sara's cheek. "Love you," she called, making her way to her office.

"Love you too," she said.

All Catherine saw all morning was file after file as she sat at her desk, causing her morning to be tediously slow. She was reminded of the time when her stomach gave a loud rumble and stood to find Sara, knocking on the door to her lab a few minutes later.

Sara turned, stopping in assembling a torn picture. She smiled, opening the door.

"Hey," Catherine smiled, entering to sit at the desk. "What you working on?"

"Just a picture," Sara said, sitting beside her.

"Need a hand?"

"You must be bored of paperwork?" Sara asked, trying to assemble the pieces.

"Very. If I have to sign one more document today, I swear I'll go insane," she smiled, adding a few pieces to Sara's.

Sara smiled. "Try these. They're kind of the same..."

"Thanks," Catherine smiled, kissing her cheek as she put the pieces together. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, I am. Where should we go?"

"How about the diner across the road?"

Sara nodded. "Okay."

Catherine smiled, taking Sara's hand. She grabbed her purse from the office as they made their way over. When they'd sat down, Catherine took Sara's hand across the table. "Was Ashlynn ok this morning? You took a little longer than usual this morning."

Sara nodded. "Yeah, by the end she was ok, but she wanted me to stay."

"She's so clingy with you lately. It's cute," Catherine smiled.

"Yes, but in two days, and nine months, if we are, she'll be one jealous, attention seeker," Sara said with a sigh. "That's going to be the only downside."

"If you didn't want this..." Catherine sighed.

Sara held her hand tightly across the table. "No, I do want this and this is something any family goes through. Please don't think I regret the decision, Cath. It's not true. I love you and I want this to happen. If it is positive, we'll just have to sit her down some night and explain."

"Yeah. If it's positive."

"It will be," Sara encouraged.

Catherine nodded. "What are you eating?"

"A burger sounds good."

Catherine nodded, calling the waitress over. She ordered Sara's burger, and got herself a steak sandwich, something something she never ordered. "Lindsay said she had an invitation to a birthday party at the weekend. We could spend some time with Ashlynn?"

Sara nodded. "We could or..."

"True," Catherine nodded, "It feels like it's been forever."

"I know we've been busy with the job and two kids. I just think we need a night for us."

"I agree," Catherine smiled, leaning across to kiss her wife. Seconds later, their food was placed in front of them, Catherine's looking greasier than the brunette's.

Sara smiled, taking a bite after picking up her food.

Catherine smiled, picking at hers before adding some ketchup, then took a bite. "Yours ok?" she asked once she'd finished her bite.

"Great."

"Mine too," she smiled.

Catherine's smile soon faded by the time they arrived home. "Would you mind sorting the kids' tea? I need a lie down."

Sara nodded, kissing her cheek. "Are you feeling ok?"

"Headache. I'll be fine, just need to sleep it off."

"Ok," Sara said, taking Ashlynn from her car seat.

Catherine smiled, making her way inside to lay down. "Is Mom ok?" Lindsay asked when they got inside.

"Yes. She just has a headache."

"She's been acting weird all week. Is something going on?"

"She's probably not feeling well."

"I'm going to do some homework before dinner," she said softly, disappearing to her room.

"Mommy?" Ashlynn said.

"Yes?"

Ashlynn kissed her. "Love you."

Sara smiled, kissing her. "I love you too," she said, sitting her by her toys.

"Mommy play?"

"Play what?"

Ashlynn thought for a moment then shook her head. "Mama?"

"What?" Sara asked, getting to her level.

"Where is Mama?"

"Mama's napping. Her head hurts."

"Kiss better?"

Sara smiled. "Maybe in a bit, okay? Let her sleep a little bit first."

Ashlynn nodded, pulling out her favorite story book with a smile.

Sara carried her over to the couch with Mr. Snuggles. "Do you want me to read it or do you just want to look at the pictures?"

"Read," she said, cuddling her toy.

"Okay. Once upon a time..." Sara began.

"And they all lived happily ever after," Catherine finished with a sleepy smile.

Sara smiled, patting the other side of her.

Catherine sat down, pulling Sara close. "Hi," she whispered.

"Hi. Are you feeling better?"

Catherine nodded, smiling at Ashlynn. "I missed you so much!"

Ashlynn crawled over Sara into Catherine's lap.

Sara stood, putting her book away. "Anyone hungry?"

"Starving," Catherine smiled, cuddling their daughter close.

"What do you want?"

"Anything you like," she smiled.

"I wouldn't mind pasta," Sara said, kissing Catherine's cheek.

"Sara..."

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."