I want to start by thanking each and every one of you for following favourite-ing and reviewing! I didn't expect to have so many followers so fast!

I know I promised a longer chapter but here's the thing; I have a very busy life and I only get time to write after midnight.

This chapter was actually supposed to be 3.400 words long but I had to cut it so I'd have something to post if I can't write anything by the end of the week. So I promise you, the next chapter will be up before Friday.

I don't get my chapters beta-ed so all the mistakes are mine. And please bare in mind that English is not my native language.

Again, thank you so much for reading :)

She kicked off her shoes and curled into a ball on the comfortable plane seat. Snuggled under blankets she'd brought, she rested her head on the seat.

"Try to get some sleep Gabriel." She told him and waited for a while to get a response. She got worried when he stayed silent.

No, Gabriel Vaughn was not the kind of man who would stay silent for so long. So, she sat up and looked back at the man who was sitting right behind her.

He was staring blankly ahead while playing with a wedding ring in his hand. She had only seen that once since she met him and that was when she found him in a bar in Mexico. In the exact same position as he was now.

He was thinking about Amelia.

She walked over and sat next to him. "What are you thinking about?" She asked kindly.

Again, when he continued to stay silent she gently touched him and pulled his head up so his eyes can meet hers.

"Gabriel, you don't have to keep it all inside. You know that I'm here if you need to talk, right?"

"I can't believe she did this to me." He finally spoke in disbelief. "She left me with so many questions. And... and now, a son? I just..." He sighed and quickly turned away.

Riley could've sworn she saw a tear slipped out of his blue eyes.

"You know that Lilian might be right. You can't be sure that Connor is yours…" she lied. She desperately wanted to believe what she just told he partner but the truth evident.

He gave her a nervous smile. "Thank you for the effort to make me feel better."

"I wish I actually could make you feel better."

He waited for a while to continue. "You know, I've been trying to find some information about the boy. Some pictures, records… Anything! But it's like he doesn't exist! I can't even find him with the chip. The only thing I have of him is that photo Lilian showed."

As he continued to talk with her, he studied the photo for probably the 50th time. He could see Amelia in him and felt a twinge of sadness over the idea that she was dead.

"Amelia was probably trying to protect him. Keep him a secret so no one could hurt him…"

He let go of a long, frustrated sigh. "I don't know if I could take care of a kid. With what we do and how we live… It's not a life for a child."

"You, Gabriel Vaughn, are the kindest, most compassionate, protective and playful person I've ever known." she said, smiling. "If you decide to be, I'm hundred percent sure you'll be a great father to him."

He chuckled. "It's funny because with Amelia, I always wanted to have a family. I lost hope after she left and assumed that it would be for the best. I tried so hard to convince myself that I was not fit to be a parent. Well I guess I succeeded."

She didn't tell him anything else. No, he didn't need to talk. He just needed someone to be by his side while he was going through all his frustration, confusion and confrontation. So she gently reached out to hold his hand and snuggled next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Try to rest." She whispered. "We still have eight hours to go."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Riley waited until his breathing slowed down and she too felt asleep right afterwards.

Her hand stayed in his the entire time.

When they reached the door of a two-story typical family house, Riley could see the hesitance on Gabriel's face.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

He nodded faintly but she could almost hear his heart beating like crazy.

They rang the doorbell and instantly heard tiny footsteps running towards them. Unknowingly, Gabriel took a step back.

From the semi-transparent door they saw a silhouette of a woman chasing after a little boy and stopping him right before he could answer the door.

"You're not supposed to open the door by yourself, remember honey?" they heard her say silently.

The woman who they assumed was the one taking care of the boy, peeped through the hole and bent back down next to the child.

"Connor, I need you to go back to the living room."

The door was soon opened and there stood a tall blonde woman with a kind smile.

"How may I help you?"

"My name is Gabriel Vaughn. I'm assuming you called me?"

"Mr. Vaughn, please come in. I believe we have something important to talk about."

She showed them the way to the kitchen and asked them to sit down.

"I'm Anne Greggart, I'm an attorney and I was also a close friend of Amelia's. You should first read the letter and then we'll talk." She told him and handed him an envelope.

He didn't want to do it. Not there at least. That letter was probably the last thing that was left from his wife. He needed to be alone while reading it, not with both his partner and the attorney's eyes on him.

"Auntie Anne! I'm hungry." he heard the little boy whine from a distance. And thanks to his call, Anne left the table to prepare something for Connor.

Riley didn't want to disturb him from the beginning so she made an excuse about needing to check the perimeter and left too.

His hands were shaking as he unfolded the letter and he waited a while until he started to read.

Gabriel,

I'm guessing that right now you are feeling angry and betrayed and probably looking desperately for an out because you haven't given your brain a chance to accept what this means and attach an emotional response to the situation. I realise the you will demand all the necessary tests, but you don't need to do more than look at him and see your face, your smile and know in your heart that he is yours.

I regret having kept him from you all these years. I guess when your life gets cut short you start to take stock and realise what is or isn't important. And it is important for Connor to get to know his father. Because his father is someone worth knowing.

I knew that I could've told you about the baby and that when I did, you would've quit everything and leave behind your entire life just to keep us together as a family. But I couldn't do it. You loved what you did and I couldn't just ask you to leave everything behind and start a life you don't believe in nor approve. So I came to the conclusion that carrying your child would not change my plans to disappear.

And I left.

I thought I had everything figured out. I was going to abort the baby and everything would be back to the way it was. I spent weeks trying to convince myself that I was not fit to be a mom. I didn't want our child to be born into the life I was going to give him. A life without his doting father….

However I couldn't go with it Gabriel. The thought of killing our baby was not something I could handle.

I was still determined about not being fit to become a mother though. I had all my options laid in front of me and again, I made a decision. I was going to give away our child so that he could have a much better life. After all it was my best option.

I don't know why I decided to do that, I was not thinking straight and had lost my compass.

I felt lost.

But that feeling lasted until the moment I held Connor in my arms. HE was my new compass.

And I couldn't abandon him.

He quickly became my entire world and a part of you that I would have forever.

I know keeping him a secret was a selfish thing for me to do to you and a selfish thing to do to our son.

Regardless, on May 17, 2008 I was blessed with the most precious gift and I am now entrusting that gift to you.

Love Always,

Amelia

I hope you enjoyed reading this little chapter. Please let me know how you feel. Review motivate me to stay up all night and write. They really do :)

BTW who is as excited as I am about next weeks episode. Did you guys watch the promo? It looks like it's going to be an amazing episode!