IV

Sofia wasn't surprised that Sara didn't call the next day nor the day after that. A part of her was sure the brunette wouldn't call at all, that she, Sofia, had to call Dean and ask for Sara. Dean, Sara's boyfriend. Something was odd about him and her, they didn't act like a couple, no kisses, no hugs, then again, there had never been any signs of Sara's and Grissom's relationship and they had been together for…well, as long as everybody else than the two knew, at least two years but it could be longer. Nobody told her and she was sure, it wasn't a question, she should ask.

When her cell phone rang on a late Wednesday morning she thought it was one of the annoying advertisement calls.

"I'm not buying, not selling and I'm not interested."

"The Sofia I used to know was always interested in lunch and coffee."

"Sara? I thought I've to call Dean to get you on the phone."

"You don't get me via Dean, save yourself the time."

"Now I've got your cell phone number, I can get you on your own phone. Where will we have lunch and coffee?"

"Didn't you say you're not interested?"

"When I thought you're one of the idiots, who call you all the time to sell you whatever shit they offer. Where and when?"

"Malibu Pier, half an hour."

"Without or without dog?"

"I don't know about Happy, Lucky is quite unhappy since she's away from your dog. Like a teenager with a broken heart."

"Sounds a lot like my misbehaved dog. He tried to run away after you left, I had to keep him on a leash the next day and he's whining all the time he's in the living room and smells Lucky. Do you know…?"

"I see you and Happy in half an hour, don't be late, I'm hungry." Sara ended the call.

"Of course I've got the time to meet you." The blonde said to the dead connection. "It's not like I've got anything to do, I just work and…why is she not at work?" Sara never told her what exactly she was doing in Los Angeles, never told her what she was working. Did she work nightshift again?

"Happy? Happy, come here!" Not as happy as he usually was, Happy came down the stairs to see his owner. "Hello Boy, how are you?" Happy put his snout on her leg. "I've got some good and some bad news for you. The bad news are we're a play ball, the good news are you can see Lucky pretty soon. How do you like that? We go and see Lucky? Your cute little girlfriend, who might be the mother of your children. Sara didn't say a word about this, I'm not sure if she knows if Lucky is pregnant, but it's Sara, so everything is possible."

Happy seemed to understand, his tail waggled rapidly and he barked twice. To Sofia it was a sign of happiness.

"All right, lets get ready for lunch, coffee and a date for you. This time you better behave yourself, no jumping on Lucky, she shouldn't be in heat anymore anyway. Try to be a gentleman."

"Who has to be a gentleman?" Brian asked, walking into the kitchen, dressed in boxer and a shirt.

"Happy, he has a date with Lucky."

"The bitch of your friend? Quite sexy friend. Is she available?"

"I've no idea and Sara isn't a person you ask this kind of question."

"A mystery woman? I like that. People should have their secrets, it's so much fun to explore them step by step."

"Good luck with her."

"You never know, Happy got Lucky, I might get Sara."

"I doubt you're her type."

"Hey, I'm a sexy guy."

"Exactly, her ex fiancé, or still fiancé, husband, I've got no idea, it's Sara, was around fifteen years senior her, you're younger, he was a geek, you're a rainbow, he's emotional unavailable, you're the one who cries first when we watch a movie. You're everything Grissom isn't."

"If they split it might be my advantage to be me and not like him. When I can meet her?"

"When she decides to come over."

"Will you take a few photos of her today?"

"Why would I?"

"Memories of the good old times."

"Sorry, you've to deal with the security video." Sofia blinked at him. Brian saw Sara on the video tape of their security cameras. There were five all over their premises. Four outside, one in the hallway, focusing on the front door. The blonde provided the best possible security and alarm system for her clients, she wanted the same for herself.


When Sofia arrived at the Malibu Pier she found the brunette with her Golden Retriever at the car park on the left side, Sara enjoying the sunshine, Lucky hiding in the little bit of shade. As soon as the Golden Retriever saw the dark brown Labrador she jumped up and barked.

"Looks like they missed each other. Hey Lucky, how are you?"

"Good in ignoring you." Sara said dryly.

"You don't like to greet me the way your dog greets mine?" Sofia cocked her head.

"Do you see me as excited as Lucky is?"

"No, you look quite cool, like always. No wait, there was a soft smile when you saw me. A little sign of happiness."

"When I saw Happy."

"So he's not a bad dog anymore?"

"He's the father of Lucky's puppies."

"She's pregnant?" The blonde swallowed. A tiny part of her hoped nothing happened, even when she was pretty sure her dog used the time he had to make her a nana. A dog nana. And of course she loved puppies, almost everybody loved puppies, but they came with a lot of responsibility.

"I think so but to be sure we have to go back to the vet in two weeks. She couldn't tell me for sure if Lucky is pregnant. Put some dollars away, puppies are very expensive. Especially when a new room is needed for the mother."

"A new room?"

"Yes, the condo isn't big enough for her and up to twelve puppies."

"You're more than welcome to come with Lucky over, I've got the space for her and the puppies, you saw my garden."

"Like I saw how easily a dog can get out of there."

"Not anymore, the table tennis table is gone and I added another three inches on the fence. My garden is a safe haven. A prison nobody can escape from. The Alcratz of Los Angeles."

"I won't leave my dog with you, she'll miss me. Even when she doesn't look like it at the moment because she's too busy being over the moon with your dog."

"Who doesn't jump her anymore."

"He tried and got told off for it. My baby won't let him get lucky again."

"He got lucky once. Or twice. Or…we don't want to know. Where will we have lunch?"

"There's a vegan restaurant down the road."

"Vegan? Seriously? What happened to Sara the vegetarian? You ate my cheesecake, it wasn't a vegan one."

"I'm not a vegan, still a vegetarian and it won't hurt you to eat vegan style. It's a nice change of our daily meals. Did you ever try it?"

"No. Can we take the dogs with us?"

"When we sit outside, yes."

"Okay, leaves and grains for lunch…I bet Happy doesn't want a share of my lunch."

"Oh, he will, he's a Labrador, he's always hungry."

"You might be right on this one."


To Sofia's surprise her vegan lunch wasn't as bad as expected and her dog did try to get a big share of it. Like Lucky tried to get Sara's lunch too. After a walk on the beach they went to Sofia's place again. Happy and Lucky took off into the garden, playing.

"Your dog likes my place."

"She likes your dog, she doesn't care about the place."

"Don't tell me my house isn't a nice place."

"It's not too bad, considering how it looked before. It has this cool attitude…"

"Hey, do you know where…Miss Sidle?"

Sara looked up the stairs, surprised to hear her name. "Nico? What are you doing here?"

"I live here, what about you?"

"You know each other?" Sofia asked surprised.

"She's my…was my assistant teacher at University, assisted of Professor Maier. How do you know her?"

"Maybe it's time for an official introduction, you will see each other more often. At least I hope you will. Nico, that's Sara, my old colleague from Las Vegas, I told you about her and her dog Lucky, who might be pregnant with Happy's children. We met a few days ago, the day when you let Happy inside and he and Lucky made a lot of cute puppies. They're your responsibility too now. Sara, that's Nico, my daughter, who let Happy in the house. She'll be the babysitter."

The brunette wasn't sure if her ears played a trick on her. Did Sofia really say Nico was her daughter? This had to be a mistake, Sofia Curtis didn't have a daughter. She never mentioned one and Nico was twenty-one, she had not been around when the blonde was in Vegas otherwise Sara had seen her at one point. And if she was Sofia's daughter, that made the blonde a young mother.

"Your daughter?" The black haired woman was the daughter of the blonde? All right, Sofia died her hair, that wasn't a secret but…it seemed so unreal.

"Yes, don't you see these stunning blue eyes? She got them from her beautiful mother." Sofia pulled Nico in her arms and kissed her cheek.

"You never told me you have a daughter."

"I didn't tell anybody in Vegas. Was Sara a good teacher, Honey?"

"Very good. Thanks for the points hint last week."

"You're welcome."

"Right, you told her how many points she had because your colleague preferred to listen to himself telling stories nobody wanted to hear."

"I did."

"A pity you're not my teacher anymore, I liked working with you."

"Ditto and now I know where you get your smart head from - and the stubbornness."

"All good qualities are from mom, she said. Sorry to split the happy group, I've to go. Don't wait up on me, it will be late, mom. Nice seeing you, Miss Sidle. Am I right we'll meet more often now?"

"When our dogs become a family, yes. Have a nice day."

"You too. Bye."

"Bye Honey, take care."

"Always." Nico grinned and left the house.

"Before you ask me a million questions, why don't we get a coffee and go outside, watch our dogs?" Sofia said before Sara could a word.

"Sounds good to me."

"Perfect, you prepare the coffee, the machine is in the kitchen, I need to see the bathroom. In case you need it too, the door next to the entrance is the guest bathroom. Cups are in the cabinet over the coffee machine."

"Okay." Sara smiled. It almost looked like Sofia vanished to get herself a minute or two to prepare for possible questions. The brunette would do the same if she was in the blonde's shoes. Or deny any answers. Sofia had a daughter! How crazy was this?