A/N: Sorry for the delay - I had a horrible kidney stone and then my computer died. Hoping to get back to regularly updating this story. Please read and review!
Gil opens the door, as I'm trying my best to cradle Charlotte, who is becoming louder in her displeasure. I manage to walk through the door and settle into the recliner, rocking and quietly singing. Gil is standing behind us, listening more than talking to someone on the other end.
Charlotte's wails are becoming louder and I decide to head towards the nursery - partly to check about a dirty diaper, partly to give Gil a little more peace while he was on the phone. After carefully removing a onesie, I can guess why Charlotte is so upset. I'd be upset if I had a wet diaper against my baby soft bum.
Gil and I have several hours alone before the gang comes back from their respective adventures. Together, we got Charlotte settled in her crib before we padded down the hall and curled up on top of the covers. I settled in between his stretched out legs, my head laying on his stomach. His arms wrapped around me and once in a while, he would absent-mindedly stroke my back or head.
He told me about the interim professor calling, offering to meet him and pick up the syllabus for the rest of the semester. He was fairly confident that he would take him up on the offer. Anything to spend more time with us. And sometime during the conversation, my eyes became so heavy I couldn't keep them open and I decided to give into the darkness that came quickly.
I woke to the smell of dough and realized that Gil must have slipped out of the bedroom and started making pizza dough for dinner. I stretched out of the bed, walking into the nursery only to discover Charlotte wasn't in her crib.
As I'm walking downstairs, I hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Gil is at the island cutting up different vegetables for pizza toppings, as the boys are teasing Lindsey about some picture she had posted online.
Catherine is quietly talking to Charlotte as she walks around the kitchen and dining room.
I sidle up to Gil, gently placing a kiss on his cheek - turning to him as he deepens the kiss, ever so slightly. Everyone laughs when a playful swat across Gil's behind causes him to drop the green pepper.
Greg manages to get some snuggle time in with Charlotte before she begins to get fussy - it's dinnertime for her. He hands her to me and I make my way up the stairs - noticing a second set of footsteps on the stairs behind me. Too quiet to be any of the boys - I reach the top stair and look over my shoulder to see Catherine.
"Do you mind if I - we…"
I could count on one hand how many times I had seen Catherine Willows speechless. And she was - stumbling over words asking if we could talk, while I nursed.
"Cath, it's fine. I'm definitely a lot less modest than I used to be. And - well, you're a mother. You know how the body works." I smile, and she follows me into the nursery.
I turn the small lamp on, casting a dim glow around the room. I settle into the rocker, taking a few minutes to sit and rock as Catherine takes a seat on top of the trunk. I laugh to myself, thinking I'm becoming quite adept at unbuttoning my shirts with one hand while cradling Charlotte in the other.
"So how long before I'm a milk machine?" I ask, causing us both to giggle.
"24 hours - 48 at the most. You won't believe the difference. And Grissom won't either…."
I nod and turn my attention back to Charlotte. The room is quiet as we settle into our steady rhythm. Catherine breaks the silence -
"Sara, Lindsey is really thinking about transferring out here next year. It's all she talked about while we were shopping today. I know she's old enough to make her own decisions, and it's not my place to try and talk her out of it. But, if she does - will you try and keep an eye on her? I know she's a good kid. I just worry - I know all about those college boys."
I smile - "Of course, Catherine. If she needs a place to stay and check out the school or anything - she's more than welcome to stay here. You can come and visit. I'm sure everything will work out."
" I know, Sara. She's my baby - only she's all grown up."
Catherine stands up and whispers that she's going to 'freshen up' before dinner. As she's walking past, I can see the shimmer of fresh tears on her cheeks.
I continue rocking with Charlotte, who's eyelids are beginning to droop and her suckling has become intermittent. When I'm sure she's asleep, I carefully place her into the crib and redress myself before heading downstairs.
Gil has pizzas in the brick oven and the smell greets me at the top of the stairwell. I'm looking forward to eating his homemade 'specialty' - I wasn't able to stomach it while I was pregnant. The smell of dough sent me running to the bathroom. So for the first time in eight or so months, I'm going to indulge in pizza.
As I enter the kitchen, Gil is removing the pizzas and placing them on large flat pizza stones. The boys, Greg and Nick, have topped their pizza with pepperoni, sausage, canadian bacon and lots of cheese. Lindsey has settled on chicken, mushrooms and tomatoes - all strategically placed, a bite of each on every slice. Gil has piled our pizza with every vegetable he could find. Spinach, onions, tomatoes, peppers in three varieties, mushrooms, olives…and lots of cheese. It looks absolutely delicious.
The six of us settle around the table - our plates filled with piping hot pizza, about as authentic as anything from New York City or even Chicago. Our conversations are dotted with laughter, appreciative sighs of delight for the pizza and promises of frequent phone calls, email updates, pictures and visits.
We spend the rest of the evening together - even playing another round or two of poker before a contagious round of yawns causes us to get ready for bed. I'm heading up the stairs while Gil is turning off lights, locking doors and setting the alarm system. Stopping to check on Charlotte, I'm pleased to find her still sleeping - her chest rising and falling in measured breaths. Gil wanders into the nursery, wrapping his arms around me.
"She's perfect. And so is her mother." - his lips trailing soft kisses down the nape of my neck.
Hand in hand, we walk into the bedroom, changing into pajamas and crawling under the soft blankets.
"I've enjoyed having the gang here. But I admit - I'll be able to rest a little easier when it's just us. When we can get into a little routine. Just the three of us." Gil chatters.
I nod in agreement, snuggling closer to him and allowing my eyes to close. Not many minutes pass before sleep is blanketing the both of us in her dark warmth.
