Chapter 2

Monica walks down the hallway and pauses at the bathroom door. Then Monica softly calls out Sarah's name, "Sarah…baby are you okay?" Monica opens the door and found Sarah curled up by the toilet.

Sarah looks up at Monica and she had sick look on her face, "Monica….I think….I'm sick."

Monica looks at Sarah and then grabs a towel and wetted it down to put it over Sarah's forehead. "You don't look so good…" Monica gentle places the wet towel on Sarah.

"I threw up…and I feel like a volcano inside of me." Sarah cries.

Monica sat down next to Sarah and gently touches her forearm, "Well…I'm here." Sarah smiles a little but her smile quickly fades when she moves away from Monica's embrace and rushes to the toilet as she barfs up her dinner. Monica came next to her and did what any mother would do which is to hold and be there for her Sarah was done for the moment, Monica washes Sarah's face from her puke and puts the wet towel on Sarah's forehead.

Sarah felt completely ill from her last wave of puke, and curls into Monica's arms. "I'm so glad to have you as my mom."Monica smiles to Sarah's comment, and sits with Sarah a little while longer, before she carries Sarah in her arms to the couch downstairs. Sarah looks at her and from that moment on, she knew that Monica will love her forever. "Monica….can we still have our girl day later on…"

"Oh sweetie, I think that you shouldn't worry about that right now. You need your rest." Monica said stroking Sarah's hair as she too settles down next to her on the sofa.

"But I want to celebrate with you being part of our family." Sarah softly whispers.

"We still can, but you know I don't need you to celebrate my engagement with your father." Monica smiles.

"You don't?" Sarah asks looking up at Monica.

"No….All I need is you with me kiddo, and you loving me the way I love you. That's all that matters to me. And I don't care if you are barfing up your guts. In this moment me holding you, like now, is celebrating my engagement to your father." Monica pauses. "And you know why?" Sarah shakes her head and peers into Monica's soft brown eyes. "Because this is the closes thing for me to be a mom to you, and that my sweet Sarah is the greatest celebration of my engagement."

"Really…even if I am puking?" Sarah asks looking into Monica's eyes.

"Yes…even if you are puking, you will still be my little girl." Monica smiles, and Sarah smiles back and moves into Monica's chest and nuzzles her face in between her breast and sleeps until the next wave of sickness hits her. "I love you Monica…" Sarah whispers as her eyes begins to close.

"I love you too, my sweet Sarah." Monica whispers back and watches Sarah falls asleep in her arms. Sarah slept for about a half hour until the next wave of puking hits her as she awoke and barfs into a bowl that Monica had sitting out. Once Sarah was done, Monica gets up and dumps Sarah's puke into the toilet and washes it out for the next round. It happen 8 more times until Monica heard her fiancé get up to go to work.

…...

Griffin notices Monica wasn't in his arms as he hits the snooze alarm for work. A little shocked he gets up and goes downstairs and he peers into the downstairs bathroom to find Monica at the sink with a bowl.

"Honey…are you okay?" Griffin asks.

Monica looks at him and nods,"I'm fine…..however your daughter is not. She's been puking all night Griffin."

"Is she all right?" Griffin asks as Monica comes out of the bathroom with the puke bowl in one of her hands.

"Yeah she's fine. I've been staying up with her and helping her out. Basically being a mother to her." Monica smiles and squeezes Griffin's shoulder. Then she goes back to the couch where Sarah lays in a heap with blankets around her as she sleeps.

Griffin looks down at his daughter then to Monica, "I didn't hear her….how did you know she was sick?"

Monica eyes Griffin and then she looks at Sarah, "I don't know, I had this feeling nagging at me, which woke me up and then I found your daughter curled up in the upstairs bathroom crying in pain. I guess I have this mother instinct in me that was telling me that Sarah needs a mother right now. So for the past 2 hours I've been doing this, and just being a mother to Sarah."

Griffin smiles at Monica then looks at his daughter, "I use to have that feeling every time Sarah was ill. I don't know what happen to that."

"Well the good news is she is fine. I've been watching out for her." Monica softly whispers and laces her fingers to Griffin's saying, I'm here and there is nothing to worry about. "You should go to work, I can mange looking after your daughter."

"You sure, I don't mind calling in?" Griffin asks looking a bit concern.

"I'm positive. Besides this is supposed to be our girl day anyway." Monica smiles and kisses Griffin's cheek. "Your daughter will be fine, I promise. And if she gets worse, I'll call you, and rush her to the hospital if she needs medical attention, but I think it is just a 24 hour flu that she has."

Griffin nods and kisses Monica's forehead, "I fell in love with the right woman. You truly are like a mother to her. Thank you."

Monica smiles and kisses her fiancé, "Your welcome, now go before you get yourself in trouble with being late for work."

Griffin smiles and kisses Monica one last time before jumping in the shower up stairs. It took Griffin about ten minutes to shower, and then change into his work clothes. Another 5 minutes and he was back downstairs eyeing his daughter and Monica. Monica was stroking Sarah's soft cheek, and watching her sleep. Griffin had that moment burned into his mind as he watches his newly engaged family come together. Monica had this powerful love between his daughter that will never die. And he loves that about her.

Griffin came up to Monica and squeezes her shoulder, "Take care of her okay."

"I will. I love you Roan." Monica smiles and peers into his eyes.

Griffin smiles at his fiancé, "You're going to use my first name are you?"

"Just thought I try it out. Come on I'm going to be sharing your last name soon anyways." Monica giggles.

"I know….but you sound so much sexier when you say Griffin." Griffin comments back as Monica gently pulls on Griffin's tie to kiss him. After a brief moment of having Monica crashing her lips to his, Griffin pulls back and tenderly spoke into Monica's ear, "I love you, my Irish angel." And Monica couldn't help to give a little giggle out of Griffin's spoken words.

"I got to go back to be with your daughter, she is going to start puking again soon." Monica says, looking back at Sarah. Griffin nods in agreement, and kisses her one last time. Then they both said I love you, and Griffin watches as Monica pulls away from his embrace and Sarah moans as Monica comes by her side and hands Sarah the bowl. As Sarah pukes into the bowl, he saw the love in Monica's eyes as she aids his daughter through the mess of Sarah's sickness. It almost made Griffin cry to see his daughter look so sick, and have a woman being there and loving her and mothering her through this. In that moment, Griffin knew that Monica is more of a mother than what his ex-wife will ever be. Monica truly loves Sarah with all of her heart and she will do anything to protect his daughter from any danger. Griffin left for work thinking of that as he drove to the precinct.

…...

Crystal awoke with a huge hangover and a snoring naked man next to her. Crystal looks at herself and realizes she slept with a stranger. All she remembers last night was Gloria lecturing her about something, and then climbing in bed and making love to this man with a nice firm chest and strong arms. Kind of reminded her of… Crystal shook her head at the thought of her ex-husband. The reason she turn to her addictions was to run away from her problems instead of facing them. And two of her addictions was alcohol and sex. Crystal sat up and then pulls the covers off of her naked body and she stumbles around to find her clothes which was thrown everywhere around this room and her sexy underwear is under the man's head. Suddenly the man started to stir.

"What….What happened last night?" He asks looking at Crystal, "I slept with you?"

"Yeah…I tend to get a little crazy when I'm drunk." Crystal admitted.

"Well….whatever we did, it was really hot, and sexy, and you…" The man eyes Crystal, and there was a glimmer in his eyes, "You are so hot, it turns me on."

"Really?" Crystal smiles and makes her way to him.

"Yeah. You want to you know….." The man eyes her and then eyes the bed.

Crystal smiles and falls back down onto the bed and bacons the man to touch her once again. "What's your name?"

The man gave a wicked smile, as he repositions himself to start the sexual vibe all over again, "Gary….Gary Carter."

"Well…oh.." Crystal cries out, as Gary works his magic in moving into her body. Gary Carter has been Crystal's lover since shortly after when she was engaged to Griffin. Griffin never knew that his fiancé was cheating on him with another man and Crystal knew at the time that it will destroy her marriage. Then shortly after when she got pregnant with Sarah she ended their relationship and went to be a loving wife and mother to Griffin. Soon after her daughter was born Crystal was torn between the love she has for Roan Griffin, and the love she has with her lover Gary Carter. Crystal became so confused with it all, that she left, and followed her father's business to Chicago where she kept sleeping with men and drinking away her pain. Still nothing satisfy her enough, until she is with Griffin again. "Nice to see you again Gary… Now just make love me." Crystal said, and Gary pushes their naked bodies down and made love to her the second time. After they both settle down and panting after lord knows what the just did, Gary eyes Crystal and kisses her sweated back.

"So…tell me Crystal, why did you come back, because you missed me is that what?" Gary smiles at her.

"Umm…you remembered me after all this time?" Crystal asks eyeing Gary.

"Yeah…How could I forget, bagging you while you were engaged to that loser cop. You still with him?" Gary asks.

"No…..I left him," Crystal said as she kisses Gary's abs.

"Really? Did he ever found out about our affair." Gary asks.

"No. I was stupid and confused woman 6 years ago. I came back here to start over…" Crystal admitted.

"You came back for him didn't you." Gary sounded disappointed.

"Yeah..well until I found him kissing and engaged to this Irish bitch lady!" Crystal said out of jealously and anger.

"What? Monica is engaged to Roan Griffin?" Gary asks out of shock.

"Oh is that what that tramps name is!" Crystal leans back and looks at Gary.

"Yeah…I hired her this past April as an English teacher where I work. And man she is a foxy lady…and I tried to leer her in my sexiest ways, but still she resists my charm. I didn't know that she is love with your old guy." Gary confesses.

"Great….first she steals my ex-husband, and now she is trying to steal you." Crystal pushes out of Gary's embrace.

"Crystal…she is not into me. I was actually into her, and still am. But I can't be with her, and you are so….hot….and sexy…and I can have a sexy hot nights with you then I can with her..." Gary says, and Crystal falls back into Gary's embrace again.

"Gary…just shut up about my ex-husband and this Monica women. Okay." Crystal says kissing him.

"Whatever you say Crystal…." Gary smiles, and locks his lips to hers, and then felt Crystal moving into him and he softly said, "Crystal…your killing me here."

"You know you like it. You player." Crystal said, and again they both fall back into another go around of having sex with each other.

…...

Monica finally crashes as Sarah's bug clams down some. She could tell that Sarah was really exhausted from puking and for the past hour she has been dry heaving and nothing would come up. Each time she cries in pain and Monica's heart ache for feeling helpless and there was nothing she could do, but to stroke Sarah and telling her she is alright.

Suddenly Monica hears Sarah cries out her name, "Monica….Monica help me!" Monica pulls back the covers and goes and sits next to Sarah, and puts a cold towel on her head and kissing the back of Sarah's head as she feels the child tremble as to what was coming.

"You're going to be alright, I'm here." The next instant Sarah vomits into the bowl, and her whole body shook each time she heaves up bile coming from her body. After Sarah was done she leans back against Monica.

"I don't want to do this anymore…Monica please make it stop." Sarah wines.

"I wish I could sweetheart….I really wish I could." Monica softly whispers to Sarah. Then Monica kisses Sarah's sweated head, and holds her and softly sings to her. "The Lord moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps on the sea, and rides on every storm." Sarah smiles to Monica's voice as she snuggles in her arms as Monica sings her pain away.

Monica kept singing to Sarah, until she was sleeping again, and then Monica took care of the bowl, and cleaned it until the next wave of vomit came over Sarah. Monica looks over at Sarah and a little tear came out of her eyes. Monica's heart aches to watch Sarah suffer like this, and she wishes that she could go over there and take the pain away from her. As Monica strokes Sarah's soft light brown hair, there was a knock at the door, and Monica leaves Sarah for a brief moment.

Monica pauses at the door and slowly opens it, standing before her was Gloria looking terribly upset and worried. "Gloria?"

Gloria looked at Monica, as she gave her a sad comforting smile, "Hey Mon…Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure," Monica looked confused as she steps aside to let Gloria in. "What uh….what seems to be troubling you?"

"Everything….I know that you are not an angel anymore but I need some Monicaly advice right now." Gloria came out with it.

"Okay…. I don't think I can help you much anymore, because I have a life now but what kind advice do you need." Monica said as she sat down at the kitchen table as Sarah slept off her sickness.

"How do you make your appointed assignment listen to you for starters?" Gloria exhaled.

"Oh..I had a few of those when I once was one….just do everything you can, and if they still don't want your help or God's then it's their choice not to listen. You can't force God's love and message on people, they have to make the first move." Monica smiles.

Gloria closes her eyes, and she wanted to tell Monica right then and there that her assignment is Griffin's ex-wife, "I know that, but what if my assignment won't make the first move?"

"Well….then it's up to God then to reach out to their spirit, remember angels are massagers of God, not the Lord himself, we can't make them listen to God's word, it's…." Monica tries to say but Gloria finishes for her.

"I know free will. Thanks for the help…" Gloria smiles.

"Anytime, but you can't run to me anymore for some angelic advice, I'm technically not an angel anymore." Monica eyes Gloria.

"I know…..I just…I just need my mentor's advice on how to finish my assignment. I miss you up there Monica. I miss having you as my friend." Gloria looks into Monica's eyes.

Monica looks down at the ring Griffin gave her and then back to Gloria, "I know. Sometimes I miss being an angel."

Gloria smiles, then leans forward to look at Monica, "Are you happy with him?"

Monica looks into Gloria's soft brown eyes, and softly replies, "yes. I can't see a life without Roan Griffin. When I'm lying in bed next to him and being in his arms, the world just melts away, and it's just me and him. And when he kisses me, it makes sense, like we were meant to be together. And my doubts fades away…whenever we kiss. Each time I'm with him, I fall deeper in love since the first day I met Griffin. I don't know if it's true love or not, but it's something, and I'm truly blessed to be loved by Griffin."

Gloria looks into Monica's eyes, and there was a spark of understanding between Monica's love for Griffin. She sees now that her falling in love with him, and then leaving her angelic ways to be with him, was the best thing. Monica showed love to Roan Griffin again and loving him the way he was suppose to be loved. And then being a loving mother to his daughter. Gloria saw the love in Monica's eyes that no other angel Gloria met in her existent has. Gloria looks at Monica and giving the cues to say goodbye for now, "I got to get back to my assignment. Duty calls. Thanks for the advice Mon….you truly are a loyal friend and don't let anyone tell you that you're not."

"Thanks I'll keep that in mind. And you're welcome, I have to get back to Sarah, she has been throwing up all night." Monica said eying the living room.

"You have fun with that….I never dealt with anyone sick…" Gloria gave a smile.

"Trust me….it's not a fun job, but I'm willing to put Sarah's needs ahead of mine because I love her." Monica smiles.

"You know Mon…you are really become more like a mother," Gloria winks.

"I know…..it's what Sarah needs right now. Good luck with your assignment." Monica calls out as Gloria steps off the small porch to Griffin's house.

"Thanks…bye." Gloria smiles and walks off into the distance. Monica linger at the doorway a few minutes more watching her old angel friend walking off to her assignment where ever it may be, then Monica turns and heads back into the house. When Monica closes the door and walks back into the living to find Sarah sitting up and looking dazed. "Sarah…honey?" Monica calls out.

"Can you put on a movie or something…I'm tired of sleeping…and vomiting.." Sarah said and glances at the bowl, then her face winkles up.

Monica gave a smile to her face, and nods, "Well I can fix one of the problems for you. What movie?"

"Umm….Homeward Bound…it puts me into a better mood whenever I'm sick or something…" Sarah gave a small smile then fell back onto the pillows.

"Okay, Homeward Bound it is.." Monica smiles and goes to the DVD rack to find the requested movie. Monica finds it next to some other movie, and walks over to the DVD player to place the disc into it. As Monica set the entertainment center up, she goes over to where Sarah is and settles down next to her. Sarah smiles and moves from the pillows and curls up on Monica's lap and rested her head on Monica's chest to watch the movie with her. Monica strokes the Sarah's head, and Sarah took hold of Monica's free hand and laces her small fingers in with hers. Monica smiles to the girl's touch and Monica leans down to kiss Sarah's tiny head.

Sarah smiles and when Monica kissed her. She can't remember her own mother doing this for her whenever she was ill and wanted her mother to love her. It was always her dad that did the mothering and not her own mother. But when Monica held her hand and place her in her arms through the puking part Sarah knew in that moment that she found a mother. When the movie began Sarah focus on the movie, but she was more tuned in to listening to Monica's slow beating heart. Listening to Monica's heart, ease Sarah's worries and pain, and left her in peace.

Monica looks at the child, and notices that she was dozing off and on in the movie. Monica hits stop on the DVD player, and just let Sarah sleep in Monica's arms. Monica had her cell phone next to the couch in case Griffin calls for something. But right now she was thinking the same thing that Sarah is, and with one gentle motion, Monica places a blanket on the two of them, and Monica slowly leans back onto the pillows and gently closes her own eyes. Monica soon drifts off to sleep with Sarah beside her and Monica holding onto Sarah's little hand. Sarah laced her fingers to Monica's hand and squeezed them tight as she slept.

…...

Griffin stayed at the precinct all day, until his shift was over. He and Chris grabbed a late lunch at the café, as Mrs. Parker was doing her chores. Mrs. Parker came over to Griffin as she looked at his tired face, "Troubles with the fiancé already?"

Griffin looks up with a puzzled face, "What?"

"Is that Irish woman Monica tiring you out already," Mrs. Parker smiles and cracked a laugh to herself.

"Oh no…she's fine, we're fine, just tired with work that's all." Griffin smiles and took a sip of his coffee.

"You know..it's funny how things worked out the way they did Griff….It seems like yesterday you were a bachelor with a daughter here in this dinner, and now you are happily engage to a fine woman I say. Finally." Mrs. Parker gave him a wink.

"Yeah…say how do you know I'm engaged?" Griffin looks up into Mrs. Parker's eyes.

"Well Mr. Griffin…..in case you haven't notice, that you live in a small town, and words travel fast in this town….. Plus I knew when you brought all those roses the other day. You are just like your father, trying to be charming and romantic to make that moment feel so special." Mrs. Parker laughs.

Griffin sort of blushes at Mrs. Parker's comment, "Thanks for the tip."

"Oh Griff…..honey you don't have to be embarrassed. I'm sure whatever you did, really made Monica fall more in love with you. You know you have that way with her…..I remember because the other day when Monica was sitting with her girlfriends, for coffee, she had this glow on her face. And that glow my friend is called the bad case of love. She has it pretty bad for you Griff." Mrs. Parker smiles, and then she adds, "And I have to say, that love she has, will be there until death tears you two apart. You really fell in love with the right woman this time…"

"Thanks Kathy." Griffin smiles.

Chris leans over to him, "I think that Kathy is jealous of your love Griff…because she wishes her husband is a lot like you" There was a loud crack sound and the next instant Chris was rubbing the side of his shoulder.

Griffin chuckles at what Mrs. Parker just did to his best friend...and the next instant Chris was looking at him, "I think she heard you there bud."

"Damn right. And to comment back on you Christopher Joseph Heart, I do not wish my husband is not like Roan or Seth. I was just making a statement on Griffin's girl." Mrs. Parker spat. And she disappears back into the kitchen to give out orders.

Chris looks at Griffin, "I hated when Kathy calls out my full name like that."

"Then don't piss her off and she won't." Griffin laughs. Griffin smiles to Chris and looks back at the file.

"So how are things with you and Mon…getting any yet?" Chris wiggles his eyebrows and Griffin gives him a little shove.

"When are you ever going to grow up…" Griffin chuckles.

"Umm…probably in the next day or two….." Chris pauses and the look Griffin gave him changes his answer, "okay maybe never. Alright all joking aside for now, when are you two going to set a date for the big day."

"Chris…I just proposed to her two days ago," Griffin said looking back up at his friend.

"I know…" Chris pointed out.

"Well….you know how weddings are, it takes time to plan, and right now with Sarah being ill and everything at work, it's just not a good time to discuss about the big day." Griffin added.

"Alright, alright. But when you do, can I be your best man?" Chris looks up at Griffin.

Griffin smiles, "You know you will always be my best man Chris. You're my best friend."

"Good. Ah…I got to go….my wife is beeping me, I have to go to the store to buy stuff for dinner. Talk to you tomorrow Griff." Chris gave Griffin a quick hug, and left a $10 for Kathy and was off to the car.

Griffin smiles as soon as Chris left and looks at his watch. It was about 5:30 and he wanted to go home to be with his newly engage fiancé and to be with his sick child. He finishes what was left of his coffee, and pulls out his wallet to pay for Kathy's service. Just then Kathy came out to clear the dishes from Griffin and Chris's meal, and to collect her dailey wedges. "Going home there Griffin…"

"Yup….I got a sick child that needs me, you know how it is." Griffin smiles.

"Oh…is my little angel cakes sick?" Kathy asks.

"Yeah…..Monica heard her throwing up and she's been with her all day." Griffin answers.

"Taking care of sick kids are not the greatest things in the world, of course you know that. Here…." Kathy wraps up some homemade chicken noodle soup for Sarah and hands it to Griffin. "For Sarah…..my family's famous Chicken noodle soup will cure any big bad sickness."

Griffin smiles and takes it, and was about to pay, then Kathy pats Griffin's hand, "Don't sweat it Griffin….it's on the house."

"You sure, I don't mind paying for the soup…." Griffin tries to offer, but Kathy just smiles at him.

"I'm sure…..Sarah is like my granddaughter to me Griffin, and if she needs a good meal to eat when she's sick, she can have my service. Besides I kind of adopted you as a son." Kathy smiles.

"Thanks….you have been a second mom to me, and I will love for you to be at my wedding." Griffin said.

"Oh Griffin….I.." Kathy was speechless. "I can't take the glory away from Ruth…She has been like my best friend. I don't want to upset her…"

"I'm not asking you to replace my mother…..I just really want you there, I'm not asking you to be my mother….you were a big part of my life, since I was a young teen, and I….will be honored if you join me when I marry Monica…." Griffin eyes Kathy, "You said yourself that you adopted me…."

"Well if you put it that way fine…..but don't expect me to dance with you during the mother/son dance…..I can't do that to Ruth….I know she's dead, but it just doesn't seem right." Kathy smiles.

"Alright I will keep that in mind…" Griffin laughs and embraces Kathy into a hug. And takes the jar of Mrs. Parker's famous homemade soup and heads to his car. Just when Griffin hops into his car, Crystal walks right into the café where Griffin had just left from. Gloria watches Griffin leaves and follows her assignment in.

…...

Crystal found a spot at the bar, and looks at this old place where she used to work to get by in college. Still the same old manger Mrs. Kathy Parker the one woman that never gave a damn about anyone except her ex-husband and her, well use to that is. Gloria took a seat next to her, and Crystal tried not to make eye contact. When Kathy walks out with a notepad in her hand and made her way to them, and never making eye contact as she said, "May I help you two."

"Mrs. Parker…..it's me.." Crystal said. Kathy drops her gaze from the notepad to stare directly at Crystal with fire in her eyes.

"Crystal….Mary Burnston…. What the hell are you doing back here?"

"Mrs. Parker I uh…." Crystal tries to speak was too shock to have Mrs. Parker to remember her full name.

"You've got some nerve to show your face here, after what you have done to your own daughter!" Kathy barked.

Gloria step in, "Um….madam, she didn't come here to stir up trouble she just needs a job."

"Well….she should of thought of that before she bailed out on her own daughter and leaving poor Roan to fix a broken family. Do you have any idea how much pain you left your daughter with?" Kathy asked with eyes burning with fire.

"Kathy….I…was stupid and dumb back then, I didn't know what I wanted. But I've changed, please I need a job." Crystal begged.

"Well this is a public place….I can offer you a job, but don't expect me to be the same loving person I was when you were last here. You have broke many hearts in this town, Crystal…don't be surprised if they shudder you away." Kathy breathed. "Now…since this is my dinner and a public place, what would you like to eat?"

"We need a menu first." Crystal pointed out.

"Right, here, I'll be back in a moment…..I got other customers." Kathy moved on, and still had a glaring look at Crystal.

Gloria looked at Crystal, "Crystal…..why is everyone here mad at you?"

"Do you want the long story of my piss poor life or the short story?" Crystal asks looking over the menu.

"Whatever tells the truth," Gloria said.

"Well…about 6 years ago, I was hitting the age of 30, and I did not want to be tied down to life that I wasn't happy at the time. Roan and I had some fights here and there, and Sarah was just about 5. I was stupid and naive at the time, and Roan was gone often at work being a police officer and away on calls. I secretly snuck out after putting Sarah to bed, and going to sleep with men, to get my next fix of alcohol. Then Roan found out about my drinking problems and shuttered me away from my daughter. I was in love with two men, my Roan that I fell in love in college, and my lover Gary, that I mingled in affair with shortly after I married Griffin. So I did everyone a favor file a divorce packed my bags and left Gracie and never looking back. One of my greatest regrets was leaving without a goodbye from my daughter Sarah." Crystal said and then finally looking at Gloria, "I hate myself to this day, for doing that. I came back here to reconnect my life to Sarah and Roan again, but I guess I'm too late for that."

Gloria looks at Crystal with a sympathetic look, "You still love your daughter."

"I know everyone here thinks I'm a cold hearted bitch, that abandon her husband and daughter, but I still do love them. I just want to see my little Sarah again, and have some quality time with her." Crystal says. "And I know after what I have done, I'm sure Roan is never going to let me have her."

"So what are you going to do?" Gloria asks.

"Well….she's my daughter too. As soon as I sell this business I'm going to file a custody order for my rights to Sarah." Crystal said and looking at Gloria, "That Monica women, thinks she can steal my girl away…she has another thing coming."

Gloria was about to burst her bubble of having her assignment talk trash about her best friend/mentor, but she closes her eyes, and counted to 10 to cool off her temper. Tess was right this was the toughest assignment that Gloria has ever faced.

…...

Griffin arrives back home, with the jar of soup in his hands, he found Monica coming down the stairs as she greeted Griffin. "How is she?" Griffin asks as he kisses Monica's cheek.

"I just put her to sleep….she's been sleeping off and on all day, and she only at a few bits out of a jelly toast." Monica pointed out.

"Well…when you have the flu like that people don't want to eat anything." Griffin pointed out.

"I see…and um…what did you brought home with you?" Monica said pointed to the jar of homemade chicken noodle soup.

"Oh…this is for Sarah…Kathy gave it to her, for later of course." Griffin smiles.

"Well…Would you like some left over pasta or something….I haven't had any dinner because of Sarah, and I was waiting for you." Monica smiles.

"Sure." Griffin replies. Griffin places the jar of soup in the refrigerator, and grabs the bowl of left over pasta with a creamy sauce, and white chicken meat in it. Monica took out two plates and Griffin scoops out a few handfuls and places them in the microwave. As soon as the meals were heated up, Monica lead Griffin out on the back porch to eat in a candle light, and to watch the sun set over the small river. About halfway into the meal, Griffin looks at his fiancé, "You know….you can be really romantic at times."

"Well…Griffin, you did set up the proposal, and the previous night, I just want to return the favor." Monica smiles, as her heart beckons her to lean over to Griffin and kiss him tenderly and sweetly.

After a moment of their tender kissing, Griffin pulls back and gleams at Monica and for once he saw the glow upon her face, "So it is true."

Monica's eyes dart from what side to the other and a confuse expression came on her face, "What is?"

"Women really do glow when they are in love, especially you." Griffin replies. Monica giggles, and nuzzles her nose to Griffin's and kisses him once more.

After they finished their meals Griffin leans his back against the wall of the house, and Monica settles in between his legs. And together they sit outside watching the sun fade away as the stars come out and dance across the night sky. Griffin kisses Monica's neck, and holds her close as the summer fireflies danced around them, making the moment feel magical and romantic. Monica looks into his eyes, as Griffin utters the words to her, "I love you….miss wings." Monica smiles and turns slightly to face him. Then slowly their heads came together, and Monica kisses Griffin tongue and all.