Just a brief chapter this time but I will have a new, longer one up ASAP.

The stunned faces stared at her, waiting for her to explain further. She couldn't just tell them she had a daughter and leave it at that!

She was saved, if only briefly, by Aimee tapping her on the cheek. "Juicy." The little girl requested in a sweet voice and tilted her head to the side, studying her mother's face.

Catherine kissed her forehead and placed her back on the ground. "Go back to bed and mommy will bring you your juice cup."

The child twirled her fingers in her hair and looked around the room, unsure of all the new faces. She wasn't used to her mother having guests; it had always been just the two of them. It was the only thing she knew and to suddenly have three new people in her temporary home was a little daunting.

Catherine could sense her daughter's unease and gently rested her hand on top of Aimee's head. "It's okay sweetie, these are, mommy's friends." She pointed to each of them in turn and introduced them, each giving a little wave when their name was said. "Mommy used to work with them a long time ago."

The small head turned upwards to face Catherine. "Fwiends?"

Smiling softly Catherine nodded, the child, comforted by her mother's reassurance, turned back to the strange people and smiled. Sara gasped softly at the resemblance in the young girls face to a certain detective. They had the same smile.

Catherine, hearing Sara's gasp, mentally cursed. She had made the connection and figured out who Aimee's father was. With pleading eyes Catherine subtly shook her head, begging Sara not to say anything to Aimee.

Quickly turning Aimee she patted her bottom and sent her back into the bedroom, she quickly grabbed the pink beaker off the small table and filled it with juice, avoiding the eyes of her friends the whole time.

After giving the drink to her daughter she tucked her on with her stuffed hippo and kissed her forehead before going back into the other room, closing the door behind her. She turned to face her friend and crossed her arms over her chest, an attempt to shield herself from the questions she knew would be coming.

Remaining standing Catherine took a deep breath and explained.

"Before any of you ask, no Lou doesn't know about her and I want it to stay that way. The night she was conceived was a mistake but I refuse to regret what it gave me. Aimee is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. He made it pretty clear that night that we were over and he didn't want to see me again, now I can't help the fact that I have to work with him but I can keep Aimee a secret." She saw Greg open his mouth to speak and held her hand up to stop him. "Save the speech, I don't want to hear it. Lou and I ended on bad terms and for him to suddenly have a daughter would ruin his life. He deserves to meet someone young and beautiful, someone who isn't completely fucked up."

Releasing a shaky breath she sat on the small sofa again and rested her head in her hands. Silence engulfed the room as everyone tried to process what she had just said.

Carefully, so as not to enrage her, Sara spoke up. "You should tell him Catherine, he has a right to know."

She knew they were right, she knew that Lou should know about his daughter but she couldn't bring herself to do it. What if he decided to try for custody and she lost her? She couldn't live with herself if that happened.

"I think I'd like to be alone now please." She said quietly and stood up.

Slowly everyone said their goodbyes and left, leaving Catherine stood in the middle of her quiet hotel room and drama that could belong on a soap opera.

She had some serious thinking to do.