I am so so sorry about the delay! After Christmas and New Year Eve, I'm now finally done with my exams, so hopefully I'll have more time to update. ;) Thanks for all the comments, as well as for the alerts and favorites!!! :) Keep 'em coming!

Oh and btw, chapter title is from Lily Allen's Littlest Things.

Chapter 4: Sometimes I wish we could just pretend

The dinner started in an awkward silence. Cal sat at the end of the table, between Emily and Gillian. The young girl looked from her father to his partner. She opened her mouth but Gillian interrupted her before she had time to say anything. She realized Emily had probably picked up on the tension between the adults and really had no intention of discussing it with her. So she launched her on the subject of her boyfriend. Cal was both amazed and angered by her ability to act like nothing had happened. But eventually, even he engaged in the conversation and the rest of the supper went by pleasantly.

Gillian then went to place her presents under the Christmas tree in the living room. Emily followed her while Cal put away the rest of the food. The young girl curled up on the couch, hugging a cushion against her, her eyes set on the woman kneeling by the tree.

"Gillian?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Did you have a fight with my dad?"

Gillian stopped arranging the presents and laid her hands on her thighs. She sighed before answering, although not turning her head to Emily.

"It's nothing, Em. Don't worry about it."

"Is it because of me?"

She finally looked at the young girl.

"No it's not, Emily."

Seeing the doubtful look on the girl's face, she got up and went to sit next to her.

"Your dad is my best friend, Emily. Maybe we've gotten closer since we're both single but it doesn't mean that we should be romantically involved."

"Why?"

"Emily…"

"Let me guess you're going to say that it's complicated, right?"

Gillian smiled softly.

"It is. There is more at stake that the sole chance of me and Cal getting a happy ending."

"So, you're scared?"

She sighed but the entrance of Cal saved her from having to find a suitable answer. Upon seeing the two women together, he shot a suspicious look at his daughter who just ignored him. Gillian stood up and took a glass of wine from Cal's hands, putting on a smile. Emily came standing next to her.

"Dad, can we open the presents now?"

"Sure Em'. Go ahead."

The young girl sat down cross-legged in front of the presents. Gillian curled up against one end of the couch, while Cal sat at the other. If Emily noticed the distant placement, she chose not to acknowledge it. She passed their gifts to the two adults and set one aside. She then took hers and turned to them. She smiled at them.

"Who wants to go first?"

"Why don't you go ahead Emily?"

Gillian motioned to two small presents to say they were from her. Emily looked like a kid again, eagerly tearing up the patterned wrapping paper.

"Oh that's so cool!"

"What's that?"

"It's a hair-wrapping kit! You know, to plait my hair with colorful threads and pearls. I love it Gillian!"

"You want my daughter to look like a hippie?!"

The two girls laughed at him.

"Don't worry Cal, it will look beautiful on Emily. Now come on Em', you've got another one to open."

"You really don't have to spoil her like that, Foster."

"But I want to. Now stop being such a killjoy."

Emily chuckled and opened an other gift.

"Gillian, it's beautiful!"

She immediately put on the watch and showed it to her father. Then she got up and hugged Gillian.

"I love it, thank you so much!"

Gillian smiled and put her hand on Emily's back.

"You're very welcome, sweetheart."

Feeling tears in her eyes, she kept her face down when the girl sat back on the floor. She felt Cal's eyes on her but didn't acknowledge it. She eventually looked back at Emily, who was opening her last present. She first unstuck the white envelope from the paper and put it aside. Unwrapping the paper, she revealed a pair of white ice-skates. She examined them for a moment before turning to her father, confusion written all over her face.

"Wow. I mean, they're really beautiful, dad. But, you do know I don't skate. The last time I tried, I broke my arm."

"You were eight. And you were by yourself, since I selfishly would not go on the ice."

"And will you now?"

"God, no!"

"Dad!"

"I thought you might like learning from a real pro."

"Who?"

"Well Gillian, of course."

Emily turned to the woman, eyes wide with surprise. She played with the hem of her dress, a small smile on her lips.

"You skate?"

"I used to."

"Don't lie, Foster. I know you still do."

"How did you even know?"

He got up and left the room. He came back a second after, holding two pictures in his hand. He gave it to his partner, noticing with sadness that she kept avoiding his gaze. Emily went to sat on the armrest next to Gillian to be able to see the photos as well. On the first one, a girl in a very short shiny red dress skated on the ice, one leg stretched behind her, arms spread on each side of her body. On another, a young girl, about Emily's age, was holding a trophy in her hand and smiling widely at the camera.

"That's you in both pictures Gillian?"

"Yes it is, love. Second in the state's final right?"

Gillian finally looked at Cal, who was grinning smugly. She seemed to lose herself in his eyes a moment, before answering.

"Yes, but how in god's name did you know about that?"

"I saw a figure-skating trophy in your house the other day, called your brother and he sent me these."

"Ryan sent you the pictures?"

"You sound surprised."

She shrugged her shoulders and he didn't push her further. He knew that she had a complicated relationship with her brother, and virtually no relationship at all with her mother. Emily was too engrossed in the pictures of the young Gillian to say anything. She finally raised her head.

"That's so amazing. I guess I could take another shot at it with a pro like you."

"I'd love to, Emily."

"Will you come, dad?"

"I told you, Em. No way I'm getting on that thing."

"Well just to watch then. But somehow I doubt all your attention will be on me."

She looked up at her dad, trying, but failing miserably, to conceal a smile. He frowned at her but shifted his focus to Gillian when she spoke up.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Cal, but I doubt I would fit in that dress again."

His heart caught in his throat at her playful tone. Their eyes met and he smiled back at her. Then Cal got up to reach for his glass of wine. When he sat back, he was much closer to Gillian than he had been since he had kissed her. He looked at his daughter when she spoke up.

"Oh now that is a great present!"

She was looking at a gift coupon from her favorite boutique. Cal smiled.

"I thought it was a little impersonal but Gillian convinced me not to try to buy you a new sweatshirt."

The young girl mouthed thank you at Gillian. She and Cal chuckled and Emily hugged her father. After that, both adults opened the presents she had gotten them. A pair of earrings and a matching necklace for Gillian, a scarf and a belt for Cal. He showed up that last item which wore the white word cocky on a red loop belt. He arched an eyebrow as both women burst out laughing. A still grinning Emily explained:

"I saw it on Bones, I thought it kinda suited you pretty well."

"Did you now?"

"I can't wait to see you show it off at the office, Cal!"

While talking, Gillian had put a hand on his forearm. He smiled at that before shooting her a dark look just for good measure. He glanced again at the belt and added:

"Yeah, well we'll see about that."

Then Emily reached for the gift laying next to her and handed it to Gillian.

"And that's from both dad and me."

Gillian smiled and opened the present. Her smile widened upon seeing the picture of the three of them in front of the office Christmas tree. Emily pointed at it, saying:

"We didn't see any pictures of us together in your office so we thought you'd like that."

"I love it. Thank you so much."

Emily shot her a smile and got up.

"I think I'm going to go to bed, let you open each other presents alone."

"It's okay if you stay Emily."

She shook her head no and gave Gillian a kiss on the cheek. She hugged her father and went upstairs, leaving the two adults alone in an uncomfortable silence.

TBC.