September 4th 2015

Kate looked up as the Mrs Hunt walked with with two bags of food and smiled before greeting her politely. Megan turned and greeted her mother before reaching out to nudge her daughter slightly, "Lace?", she said softly, "Wake up honey". Amusement was clear in her tone of voice as she had realised the girl had fallen asleep nearly ten minutes previously.

Joan couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the young girl who was rubbing her eyes tiredly like an infant as she found it rather adorable. "I hope you guys are hungry", the older woman announced as she began to set out their lunch on the table. She had purchased a platter of various sandwiches on it along with some fruit and fresh juice. "I wasn't sure what you like Kate so I thought it best to buy a variety", she explained with a smile. It was a rather large variety of sandwiches on the platter that now lay on the table.

The blonde smiled towards the older woman, "That was very thoughtful of you, thank you Mrs Hunt", she said softly in a very polite manner.

Joan Hunt smiled softly and glanced between the two, "Considering your relationship with my daughter and that…", she paused looking at Lacey, "... that my granddaughter has apparently taken to calling you her mother…", as she said it she had an amused smirk on her face before she finished speaking, "I think it would be appropriate for you to call me Joan". It was a way of accepting the blue eyed woman into their family and to accept the relationship beginning between Kate and Megan.

Lacey was now much more alert and had tugged the table closer for it to be over Kate's legs so the injured woman could reach the food. "Can you reach?", she asked looking at the woman beside her.

Kate nodded, "Yes sweetie, thank you", she said softly before they all began to consume the food and drink that had been purchased for their lunch. She found herself looking around the room with a smile, glad that it was just them and it already felt like she was home with her family. She had always loved Megan but never imagined that the fiery redhead would feel the same way as she did, luckily she had been very wrong on that front. The woman had always had a soft spot for the other woman's daughter and enjoyed spending time with her. She already loved her like she would her own child.

*FLASHBACK*

Kate had the day off because she had been in a meeting for the whole morning but Megan was still working, in fact she was elbow deep in a body whilst in the middle of an autopsy. The issue however was that Lacey had become ill whilst at school due to her diabetes. It wasn't anything serious but she was unable to continue with her school day as she wouldn't have been able to concentrate and needed some rest.

This was during the brief period of time that she had dated Lacey's father. She had used him as a distraction from her attraction to her co-worker but it had as predicted, completely failed. The attraction she felt for Megan was far too strong for any form of relationship placebo. He had been at work and knew that Kate would take the rest of the day off after the meeting, so he decided to call her to see if she would be willing to pick up the young girl and take care of her for a while. The school had been unable to reach Megan as her phone was in her office. Kate of course agreed to look after Lacey and didn't need to think about it. She wanted to.

Kate: Hi Megan, I'm picking Lacey up from school as she wasn't feeling very well. They tried to call you but you're probably in an autopsy so they called Todd. He is busy working so he asked me to look after her. She is fine, just tired.

It wasn't long before the Medical Examiner noticed the message. Megan frowned at the message as she was worried about her daughter but smiled at the fact that Kate had her. She loved Kate with all of her heart but thought that the woman was straight and in love with Todd Fleming. She was wrong. On both counts.

Megan: Thank you Kate. I can finish early and come get her? My boss is off today so I'm sure she won't notice if I leave ;)

The blonde shook her head in amusement as she read the message after pulling up outside of Lacey's school.

Kate: I'm not sure. I've heard your boss is pretty clever so I think she may work it out some how ;) I've just arrived at the school so I'll text you in a little while when I have her. I'll take her home and give her some lunch then we will probably watch movies. I'll order pizza for the three of us when you finish work.

Megan smiled at the message and shook her head in amusement at the woman's comment concerning the 'clever boss' that 'may' work it out if she left early. She would normally freak out at the fact her child was being sent home but the fact that a doctor was with her and not just a doctor but a woman she had come to love, respect and trust, she was not as worried as she would normally be.

Megan: You're right… she is pretty and clever so I will be home around five. That sounds great! Keep me updated on how she is. Thanks again Kate

Kate had gone into the office to collect the young girl and Lacey had gone to her straight away and although looking very tired, she embraced the Medical Examiner quite tightly. Both of them went out towards the car with Lacey's hand firmly in Kate's, usually the young teen was reluctant to hold anyone's hand but at that point in time she was exhausted, needed comfort and also she had a different set of rules for the blonde who she was rather keen on. The blonde helped Lacey into the car before climbing into the driver's seat. The woman picked up her phone again to message Megan. "I'm going to text your mother to tell her that I have you and that you're alright", the woman said which resulted in a nod and an 'Okay' from the girl.

Kate: I have Lacey with me, we're going back to mine. She just seems tired so I'll grab her something to eat on the way home.

Megan: Thanks Kate, I'll keep my phone with me. I have to go and start on Mrs O'Riley's autopsy.

Lunch had been purchased and eaten so Lacey was now laying on the sofa with her head resting on the blonde woman's chest, the woman was running her fingers through the girl's dark hair whilst they were both watching a movie, snuggled up beneath a warm blanket. The young girl was tired and was drifting in and out of sleep as she lay beside her mother's boss on the soft sofa.

Kate kissed the top of the child's head, "Go to sleep", she said softly, "You need your rest".

It was almost six hours before Megan managed to arrive at Kate's home and she used her 'emergency key'. Kate had kept her updated on the young girl's condition throughout the day and Megan was relieved to know that the only effect it had on her child was that she was tired. She had also told her that she would need to use the emergency key because Lacey was asleep on her.

Megan smiled as she stepped into the front room after carefully closing the door, she could see her daughter fast asleep lying beside Kate on the sofa with her head on her chest. Kate's hand was laced into the girl's hair and she herself had fallen asleep with the movie playing in the background. The redhead chose to call in the pizza order first, knowing that Kate wasn't planning to do it until she got home.

After ordering their dinner, she moved to kneel in front of the sofa in the other woman's lounge, "Hey", she said softly as she gave into temptation and ran her hand gently over Kate's cheek, "I ordered the pizza".

Kate's sleepy blue eyes gradually opened and she looked at the other woman with a bright smile, she had felt the soft hand on her cheek and for a moment simply soaked up the feeling it gave her, "How was work?", she asked softly, not wanting to wake the young girl yet.

Doctor Hunt shrugged, "The usual… Mrs O'Riley's cause of death was a Myocardiac Infarction before her cats decided to snack on her after being left with the body for three days", she said with a frown, "and it turns out Mr Finch thought he could fly after consuming a various number of illegal substances".

Her boss smiled, "The usual then huh?", she said with a shake of her head, "Hungry cats and flying men".

They had then spent hours watching movies and eating pizza before Megan ended up sleeping over at Kate's when her daughter decided that she didn't want to leave and the blonde permitted a last minute sleepover.

*END OF FLASHBACK*