Hey guys. I know, I suck, but KC has been a royal bitch recently and been consistently giving me bupkas. I also know that I have other fics I should be finishing rather than starting a whole new one, but I'm gonna take whatever KC has to offer at the moment. I started this fic a month or so ago while I was in Paris with StarbucksTink and I've nearly finished it so I thought it was about time I started posting. As always, nothing belongs to me *pouts* but review and enjoy :D

"Lindsey!" Catherine Willows shouted after her seventeen year old daughter, struggling to be heard over the traffic. She fought the urge to look away as Lindsey dashed across the road, narrowly avoiding being hit by a taxi. Taking a deep breath to try and lower her blood pressure, Catherine waited patiently until the traffic stopped and crossed the road, joining her excited daughter. She smiled as she reached Lindsey; her current behavior wasn't that different to how she used to act on Christmas morning when she was a little girl. She tried to ignore the twinge of sadness that suddenly hit her, reminding her Lindsey wasn't a little girl anymore; in just a few short months she'd be away at college and Catherine would be alone. Her morose thoughts were interrupted by Lindsey's voice.

"Mom! Hurry up! I wanna go to the top before it shuts!"

Catherine laughed slightly and followed the teen, who had already resumed her frantic pace towards the Eiffel Tower. Not for the first time this trip Catherine was grateful she's packed a few pairs of flat shoes; Lindsey had already dragged her round London, Rome and Madrid, and the trend had continued through their four days in Paris. They'd seen the Louvre, Saint Sulpice (Lindsey had just finished reading 'The Da Vinci Code' and insisted on visiting both places), Notre Dame, the Moulin Rouge, the Sacre Coeur and the Arc de Triomph, as well as taking a lengthy walk along the Seine. Catherine was shocked by the amount of things they'd seen and done on this two week "vacation". Now, it was the day before they were due to fly back to Vegas, back to reality, and Lindsey had begged to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower at night to see the view of Paris. They stood patiently in line, paid for their tickets then took the elevator up to the first level. Lindsey turned and immediately headed to the elevator that would take them higher, Catherine stared at it in trepidation. The younger Willows rolled her eyes, grabbed her mother's arm and dragged her inside.

"The Empire State Building is higher than this and you went to the top of that," she stated as the elevator started to move.

"That was made from bricks, not just some bits of metal. It's far more substantial," Catherine mumbled in response. Lindsey rolled her eyes once more and bounded out of the doors the second they were open, a slightly anxious Catherine following slowly behind.

"Oh my god mom you have to see this! It's gorgeous!" Maneuvering through the crowd she made her way to where Lindsey was standing next to the railing. Gazing out over the city of Paris, illuminated by what seemed like thousands of lights, Catherine had to admit it was a breathtaking view. She leaned slightly against the railing, the wind whipping strands of her long strawberry blonde hair about her face as she continued to soak in the scene before her. She could see pinpoints of light reflected in the waters of the Seine, dancing atop the small waves like fireflies. The Arc de Triomph was highlighted by sunken spotlights in the ground, the beams lighting it up from each of the four corners then fading far above it into the blackness of the night sky.

She sighed softly, her mind wandering to thoughts of a man that, as far as she knew, was somewhere below her in the sprawling city. They had walked past the Sorbonne on their way to Saint Sulpice, and it had taken every ounce of self control she possessed not to go inside and find him. It was over, he was married now. She had lost, and needed to move on. But it seemed that no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't do it. Her heart would forever belong to a man she couldn't have. She sighed again and leaned more on the railing, trying to draw strength from the immense building on which she stood, and the beautiful, vibrant city laid out before her.

Lindsey's hand on her arm pulled her from her reverie.

"Mom? You ok?"

Catherine smiled. "I'm fine sweetheart, just making the most of our last night here." Lindsey looked skeptical but smiled as well.

"Why don't we get some food? I'm starving!"

Catherine laughed and hugged her daughter. "You're always hungry." Much to her surprise, Lindsey returned the hug, until she saw two cute boys, then she swiftly pulled away, smiled and started towards the elevator.

Catherine chuckled and began to follow, realizing too late that her foot was caught. She tripped and fell, bracing herself for the impact with the ground but it never came. Instead she felt two arms catch her in mid-air and collided instead with a firm chest. She lifted her head, but the words of gratitude she'd been about to express died on her lips as her eyes locked with a familiar pair of blue ones.

"Gil?"

None of my fics would be complete without a cliffie chapter *grin*
Let me know what you think

Lily
-x-