Sara stumbled, and had to brace herself against the wall 'What?' she choked out

'Well Mum says you've got a baby living in you, and you need a man to make them, and Uncle Jim was at your house…'

Sara couldn't help but burst out laughing, trying to catch her breath 'No… No sweetie… No…'

'But you just kissed him…' Lindsey said frowning, not understanding why Sara was laughing

'Yes, I did…' Sara straightened up a little 'I kissed him just like you kiss your Mum, nothing more, I only kiss your Mum romantically… truth is Lindsey, I made a few mistakes, and I don't know who the daddy is of my little baby, but it's not Uncle Jim… Your Uncle Jim, is my Dad. He's adopting me… Do you know what that means?' Sara questioned, rubbing at her tummy with a smile on her face

'Yeah…It's where someone who cares for you, cares for you, and you have to go to court to become a family when you're not actually family, right? I have some friends with two mummies and two daddies… so, it's like that right? He's replacing your real daddy?' Lindsey questioned, looking thoughtful

Sara's breath hitched a little at Lindsey's wisdom and insight 'Yeah Lindsey, but Uncle Jim is a much better dad than my father was… he's helping me feel not so poorly.'

Lindsey nodded 'So you're only having Sex with Mum?'

Sara choked again at Lindsey's bluntness 'Yeah… Yeah, if that's ok with you? I really like your Mum… she's a great person, and she's helping me too, just like Jim…'

'Yeah, that's ok Sara…'

Lindsey started walking down the stairs again, and then paused once more

'I hope you stop being sad Sara' she said simply before turning once more.

Sara sighed, before following 'Me too Lindzz, me too' she whispered.

A few minutes later Sara joined Lindsey at the car, and was torn between sitting in the back so she could talk with Lindsey some more, or sitting in the front so she could speak to Catherine as she drove, before she could make up her mind however, Lindsey grabbed her arm and spoke up

'Come sit in the back with me Sara, I bought one of my new books to show you…'

'Ok… Ok…' Sara climbed into the back so she was sat behind Catherine, and leaned through the gap so she could place a quick kiss on her lips 'Morning' she mumbled into the embrace. She could feel Catherine's lips curling up into a smile

'Morning babe, ready to go?'

'Yeah, good weather, good company, crazy animals too see, I hope it will be a good day'

'It will be… buckle up' Catherine said smiling, turning her attention to Lindsey 'seat belt Lindsey' she repeated, starting the engine.

Throughout the ride, Lindsey pointed out different facts and bits of interesting information from her encyclopaedia, for the most part Sara just let her talk, but a few times she piped up with some extra information that the book hadn't had room to publish, or offered to teach Lindsey more about the subject that had grabbed Lindsey's attention. The 40 minute journey to the Zoo sped by, and before they knew it, Catherine was pulling the car into a parking space.

'Lindzz, Sar, were here…' looking in the rear view mirror she saw them both grinning

'Can you teach me more about Butterflies later Sara?'

'I can try, but really, you should ask Uncle Gil, bugs are his speciality, he's an Entomologist, he studies them for his job, and for fun, he could talk to you for hours about it… any, we're at the Zoo now, and it's your turn to teach me all about Porcupine's' Sara said with a genuine smile, winking at Catherine before getting out of the car.

'Thank you' Catherine mouthed so Lindsey wouldn't hear. Sara just shrugged, a smirk on her face, so much to say 'It's nothing'

Lindsey hopped out of the car, and before Sara and Catherine could even hug or say a proper hello to one another, she had grabbed both of their hands and was dragging them towards the main gate of the Zoo.

They'd been walking around the Zoo for just over an hour, all hand in hand, ignoring the people who were staring at them, instead focusing on looking at the animals. So far they had seen Flamingos, Ostrich, various Goats, a Silver Fox, and a few other animals. They were approaching the reptile house when Sara paused, dropping her hold on Lindsey's hand

'Cat…'

'Yeah?'

'Where's the toilet block?'

'Oh…' Catherine spun around 'Here…' she pointed 'Just at the corner of the reptile house…'

Sara just nodded, before quickly walking away without a word.

'Is Sara ok?' Lindsey asked, trying not to get distracted by the Giraffe and Zebra she could see a little way off.

'Yeah… Yeah…' Catherine said distractedly, hoping it was true.

It was nearly five minutes later before Sara returned an awkward smile on her face 'Sorry… bladder…there was a queue…'

'Are you ok?' Catherine questioned, hoping Sara would understand her double meaning

'Better… I just needed a minute… I really did need the bathroom, but I also needed my meds… I didn't want an audience…' Sara said quietly

Catherine nodded in understanding, before reaching out and taking Sara's left hand in her own.

Lindsey walked ahead into the reptile house, which was fairly dark, and rather warm. Lindsey was fascinated with nearly everything she saw in there, reading as much information as she could, hoping she would remember it later. It was relatively quiet inside, and the atmosphere helped to relax Sara a little. They were standing looking at a display of geckos, when Catherine noticed that Sara was shaking a little

'Are you ok?' she whispered in the quiet building

'Yeah…' Sara whispered back

Catherine didn't question it, but wasn't convinced by Sara's answer. As they walked further around the reptile house, Sara's shake got worse

'Sara… you're shaking…'

'No… No, I'm fine…' Sara stated, trying to tighten her grip on Catherine's hand, but being unable too. Catherine pulled her hand away

'Hold your hands out in front of you….'

Sara sighed, but complied, her left hand trembling a lot, especially her index finger, her little finger held at on odd angle

'Sara, why are you shaking?'

'It's nothing Cat… really, it's just… just that stupid nerve damage I told you about…it's just my hand… it's been worse…'

'Sara…' Catherine sighed, worrying that it could be so much more

'Really Cat, I've been living with it for years… sometimes it's better, sometimes it's worse… but it's almost always there… I've just never told anyone before, so no one's noticed or asked… no one normally holds my left hand… really, I'm fine. I promise…' Sara said, holding out her right hand for Catherine to take instead.

'Ok… I just… I worry about you…' she whispered, taking her hand and stepping closer, pulling Sara in for a kiss 'I love you Sara, I don't like to see you hurting'

Sara just looked at Catherine stupidly for a minute

'What?' Catherine questioned

'You just… You….' Sara stammered

'Yeah… I did…' Catherine beamed, realising herself what she had just told Sara for the first time, and realising that she meant it, she really meant it.

Both women had huge grins on their faces, and leant towards each other to kiss again, as they pulled back Sara whispered 'I love you Cat'

'I love you too Sara'

'Ewwww!' Lindsey called out 'Stop acting like teenagers!' breaking the moment, pulling on both of their shirts, dragging them towards a display of bearded dragons.

Soon enough they found themselves looking at a family of Porcupines. If they thought Lindsey had been excited about seeing the other animals before, they had been wrong, now she was so excited she was almost hyper.

'Oh my God!' she squealed 'Look Sara…' Sara couldn't help but grin, and then, even though Lindsey was a little big, she picked her up so she was half on her side, half in a piggy-back

'So, what can you tell me about them?... Without looking at the facts board?' Sara questioned. 'Well… they can climb trees…and live about 18 years, and they're giant Rodents, and when a baby porcupine is born, it's quills are much softer… and they just look really funny… but they're really bright… they normally have twin babies… and did I mention how funny they look…. Look, see Sara…' Lindsey said excitedly pointing at the larger porcupine that was half running half waddling up and down the enclosure

'So they climb trees eh?' Sara questioned

'Yeah… I'd love to see it one day, but they haven't really got any to climb here… I could show you a video later though? If you like?'

'I'd love that, I really would' Sara said, placing Lindsey back down on the ground 'But, how about, in a few minutes, after we've watched the Porcupines for a little longer, we get something to eat? This baby keeps demanding that I eat, and I don't think your Mum would be happy if I ate you for dinner!' Sara exclaimed

Lindsey couldn't help but giggle 'People don't eat people!'

'Sure they do, it's just frowned upon… a lot, by many people… but ok, I won't eat you, but I might steal some of your Lunch!' Lindsey giggled again, and Catherine just smiled, watching how easily her two favourite people were currently interacting.

Xxx

a/n short but sweet, now for sleep! More soon, Emz.