Hilary woke up first the next morning and quietly crept back to his room. He had just stepped back into the room when Lara rolled over and stretched.
"Hilly?" Lara asked sleepily
"Yes Lady Croft?" Hilary replied as he sat down on the bed next to her
"Did you sleep ok?"
"Yes Lara. I slept fine. How about you?"
"I slept fine. Better than I have in awhile"
"I should go and attend to things. Breakfast will be ready soon"
"Hilly, today, when Serena naps, we need to talk"
"Yes Lady Croft"
Lara smiled as Hilary walked out of the door. She laid back down next to her daughter and smiled as she watched the little girl sleep. An hour later Lara smiled as they sat down to breakfast. After breakfast Lara sat in her study reading and watching Serena coloring. The little girl smiled as she got up and walked quietly over to her mother. Lara looked up and gently pulled the child onto her lap.
"I drew a picture" Serena said softly
"What did you draw?" Lara asked
"I drew the manor, and you and me and Hilly and Bryce"
"It is a nice picture"
"Do you love me mommy?"
"Rena, of course I do. I will always love you, no matter how many times I go away I will always come back"
"I love you mommy"
"Love you too baby"
Serena hopped off her mothers lap and walked back over to her crayons and paper. After lunch Lara smiled as she watched Serena fall asleep. She walked back to her study and smiled as Hilary walked in and sat down in a chair across from her.
"Serena is worried I don't love her" Lara said softly
"She knows you do" Hilary replied
"I told her as much"
"That's not what you wanted to talk about"
"Do you love me?"
"Lara…"
"James, just answer the question"
"Yes. I love you. I love you as a friend and so much more. I love you and I know it could ruin my job, but I still love you"
"I love you too"
Lara smiled as she stood up and walked over to Hilary. She leaned down and kissed him softly before straitening up and turning to walk away. She felt Hilary grab her wrist gently and turned around slowly. Hilary gently pulled Lara until she was sitting on his lap and kissed him passionately.
"This is going to create some problems you know" Hilary said softly
"Yea, but I could always fire you" Lara replied
"Why don't you think about that first"
"Hilly…"
"Lara, please"
"Fine. Serena will be up in an hour and she'll want a snack"
"As you wish lady Croft"
"I like when you call me Lara better"
"As you wish Lara"
Lara smirked before she got up and walked back to her desk. Hilary smiled as he left the room. Lara leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She thought of the day she came home from the adventure with the time clock.
Lara sat down in her bedroom and stared at the little girl laying in the crib. Celia had been sent home and Lara was sure the only other person up was Hilary. His soft knock on the door made her smiled as he walked in. Hilary sat down on the bed next to her and smiled as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"He didn't even ask about her Hilly" Lara said softly
"Lara Alex West is an idiot" Hilary replied "Any sane man would have been by your side from the start of her little life"
"Serena knows you better than her own father. And for some reason I'm happy about that. Will you always be there for us Hilly?"
"As long as you will have my Lady"
Lara smiled as Hilary softly kissed her forehead and left. Lara laid down in bed that night and breathed easier for the first time in a long time.
Lara was brought out of her thoughts by little feet running towards her. She sat up and smiled at Serena. The little girl smiled back and jumped into her mothers lap. Lara kissed the top of her forehead and smiled as she enjoyed the moment with her daughter.