Playtime

Author: Joy

Email: Julianna@ziplip.com

A/N: Sorry for the delay but life is insane.

Sara sat on the middle swing in the park near her house while Gabriel pushed her to and fro. She had to admit it was really relaxing. The last several days had been about getting things back to normal. No high drama. No pitchers of water. No screaming sisters. Just Sara and Gabriel spending almost friend time together.

"Push me like I was a kid," Sara grinned

"Only if you'll act like one," Gabriel retorted.

"Why is that so important?"

"You don't play enough."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Sara smirked, "Watch me." With that she jumped from the highest point on the swing arc and landed on her feet. "Tada!"

"Glad you're now in the right frame of mind," Gabriel teased.

"For what?"

"For them."

Sara looked over her left shoulder and saw two boys tearing toward the couple at break-neck speed. "Uncle GabeUncle Gabe." No sooner had the yells gone up that the two boys had their uncle lain out on the grass.

An older man, maybe a year or two older than Sara approached leisurely. His hair was dark and wavy but his eyes were brilliant hazel. A perfect dark blue outline with green moving in and golden brown at the center. Those babies really got your attention. "Sara I'm assuming," he said causally. "I'm Michael. These are my sons Michael and Josiah."

"But everyone calls them Sam and Si," Gabriel commented from the ground.

"Why may I ask?" she questioned.

Sam smirked. He was all of seven or eight years old with more mischief in his eyes than Sara was comfortable with. "My middle name is Samuel. Mom didn't want a Jr. running around so Sam it is. And Si is just the middle of Josiah. Joe-Si-A," he said phonetically.

Si was obviously the shy of the two. "Our little sister Stacia is out with mama today."

"Ah," Sara nodded.

Sam smirked again then looked at his uncle on his knees cuddling Si to himself. "Tagyou're it." Gabriel was up like a shot after his oldest nephew. Si, who was no more than five, ran after Gabriel rather than away from him until he remembered the ruleswell till Gabriel reminded him of the rules.

"They're lovely boys," Sara said to Michael as she stared at her dark haired boy chasing after two smaller versions of himself in many ways.

"They're a handfulWell Sam is. Sam is the combination of all of my worst qualities and Gabriel's best," Mike admitted.

Sara looked at the older man and muttered, "I don't know that mischievous look in his eyes had Gabriel written all over it."

Michael smirked just like his son, "That one both learned from me."

"Well thanplease find a way to get Gabriel to deists from disturbing my work schedule. I have always been the self sufficient kick ass girl at the station, now I am kick ass girl with the younger boyfriend that always stops by."

"Trust mein the long run you'll enjoy it. Time will go by and he'll stop coming by and you will look at him saying How come you don't visit me at work anymore?'"

"Spoken like a man with experience," Sara commented.

"Might say that," Michael nodded.

"Soya keeping my baby brother in line?" he questioned.

"He's better at keeping me in line," she answered.

The smirk resurfaced, "You didn't know we coming, did you?"

"I didn't know I was coming."

"Sorry the boys can be much."

Sara smiled, "It's good. I don't get to see Gabriel this free spirited."

Michael laughed out right as they stared after his brother playing tag with his sons. "That's a joke right? I mean you've been to his store haven't you? Free spirited all the way."

"Music wiseyes. Own boss with the ability to cut out absolutely. BUT he is constantly behind that keyboard learning stuff about the objects he sells, all sorts of mythology, ordering, purchasing Right now he's almost child like," Sara stated wistfully. There was no way for Michael to understand how important it was to Sara that Gabriel have some of that same honest playfulness he had when they metbefore the Witchbladebefore everything.

Gabriel, Sam and Si huddled together whispering as Sara faced Michael with her back to them. Suddenly Si ran up to her saying, "Tag You're it."

Sara's shocked face at the five-year-old's slap on her butt was priceless in Michael's estimation. "Excuse me while I go kill someone," Sara hissed as Michael laughed at his little brother's firebrand.

Sara ran at Gabriel top speed who wasn't thinking about actually having to face the fast paced detective slash wielder in a foot race or he would have gotten off sooner. Si and Sam just watched as Sara and Gabriel zigzagged all over the grassy field.

Gabriel taunted Sara a bit staying in one place before moving away suddenly. "Oh no you don't!" Sara snipped tackling Gabriel to the ground.

"This is not tackle tag Sara," Gabe panted from below as Sara kept him pinned. He was just about to get a kiss for his trouble when the boys descended.

"She got ya Uncle Gabe," Si giggled.

"You got tackled by a girl," Sam sneered.

Gabriel glared up at Sara, "Making me look bad."

She moved back and shrugged as he sat up, "Shouldn't have gotten me involved.

Sara turned to the boys. "I'm a police officer. I'm supposed to run fast and tackle guys," she announced causing Gabriel to raise an eyebrow.

"You're a cop?" Si asked. Sara nodded. "Can I see your badge?" Sara pulled out the object of desire. Si smiled big at the polished star.

"Do you have a gun?" Sam asked hoping to see the weapon.

"Yep."

"Have you ever shot anyone?"

Michael stepped over; "I don't like that line of questioning."

Gabe smirked, "She takes care of her own."

"What does that mean?" Si asked.

Sara stayed kneeling by the little man, "It means your dad doesn't want you to know details which I agree with but your uncle wants you to know I protect myself and others."

Si sighed dramatically; "He could have just said so."

"That's your uncle for ya," she picked.

"Hey!" Gabe piped up nudging the wielder, whom nudged back. Gabriel smiled as he laced his fingers with Sara's.

"Ooohhh" Sam squealed.

"Uncle Gabeyou're holding hands with a girl," Si said in confusion.

"That's cause he's in love stupid," the older boy snipped.

"Don't call your brother stupid," Michael commanded.

"Are you really in love Uncle Gabriel?" asked Si. Using his uncle's full name meant it was serious.

Gabriel pulled back and looked at Sara with a soft smile, "YeahI am." He tugged her to himself and kissed her forehead then her lips gently.

Sam pulled a shocked Si away to continue their game of tag. "Go on love birds," Mike stated simply knowing that his little brother was ready to have his love alone again. "Nice to meet you Sara."

She laughed, "Well at least one of your siblings likes me" Turning back to Michael she asked, "Could you put a good word in for me with Liz?"

Michael's eyes went big, "Liz? Liz is normally the most empathic of us all."

"Sara" Gabriel began to warn unsure how his older brother would respond.

With a deep breath she dove in, "I decided to act before I thought in front of your sis... Let's just say it was not a good first impression."

"Do I even want to know?" Mike asked.

Gabe shrugged, "It was a riot. Nothing worry-some. Liz just got her shackles up because it was an act ala' Randy."

Michael smirked, "Oh this should be good," as both men turned to Sara.

She had the good sense to look sheepish and remorseful, "I kind of saw Gabriel out with Liz and thought Liz was another woman in an the other woman' sort of way." Both Bowmans' raised eyebrows at her. "I dumped a pitcher of water all over his head."

Michael began to snicker at the thought, "Oh that is priceless."

"That's what I thoughtright after thinking that I really shouldn't have laughed at the expression on her face once I realized what she thought," Gabriel confessed.

"Laughing at me brings out my worst," Sara owned.

"Only child," Gabe stated quietly to his brother. "Never had anyone to laugh at all her ideas."

"Ah."

Sara tried to look miffed but failed utterly under the trained eyes of the Bowman brothers. Michael hugged Gabriel, "Go say goodbye to your nephews and I'll be sure to give Stacia and Sue a big kiss from you." Mike whistled, "Boys!"

Si and Sam came running as Sara turned to Gabriel. "Sue?"

"The boys' mother and Michael's wife," he whispered back before dropping to his knees to hold each boy close for a moment.

Gabriel prodded his nephews. "Say goodbye to Sara," he muttered in a low, quiet voice.

Sam extended a small hand, "Glad to meet you. Next time bring your gun."

"AhNo," Sara stated clearly under the watchful eye of Michael. Sam began to pout. "Next time I'll bring my handcuffs and my motorcycle for inspection."

"Cool!"

Si sort of hid behind Gabriel. He wasn't used to adults looming above him while talking to him. The Bowman clan was very sensitive to the sensitive lad's needs and always met him on his level. Gabe nudged him slightly. "Bye," the little boy finally muttered.

"Shake her hand," Sam instructed. Si shook his head as he dipped his chin.

Gabriel scowled at Sara a bit and motioned her to her knees.

Sara did as instructed and looked at the youngest Bowman sweetly. "This better?" He nodded.

"Bye guys. I love you," Gabriel called.

"Love you too," Sam called back as Sara and Gabriel started to walk away hand in hand. "Gabe and Sara sitting in a treeK-I-S-S-I-N-G," Sam taunted. The couple cracked up.

Gabriel looked at his lovely and smiled stopping mid step. He kissed Sara swiftly before turning his back on her. "Hop on."

"What?"

"Hop onI'm giving you a piggy back ride."

Sara gawked, "You have got to be kidding. I'm nearly thirty Gabriel. I don't get piggy-back rides anymore."

"You do today. Now climb on or I will throw you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes," Gabriel threatened.

Sara laughed until he leaned down and put an arm behind her knees. "Alrightalright."

Gabriel kneeled before her as she climbed on his back. "That a girl. Knew I could get you to loosen up."

"What are you smoking? I went to a park. Played on the swing. Got wrangled into a game of tag and now this is the sign I'm loosening up?"

He smirked that wonderful Bowman smirk. "The rest was just preparation for giving you a piggyback ride," he stated carrying her toward her building.

"You are not carrying me into my building like this!"

"Oh yes I am It's either this or having me be amazingly romantic at the precinct. Take your pick."

"I hate you," she scowled.

"Love you too," he retorted.

Gabriel and Sara were laughing hysterically by the time she got her door open and they tumbled into the apartment. "Did you have a good time?" Gabe asked sweetly stroking Sara's hair lightly as they collapsed on the sofa.

"Yeah that was fun. I like your family."

"Good. Sam thinks you're pretty."

"Really?" Sara questioned.

"Told me so himself." Sara chuckled. "Are you laughing at me?" Gabriel attempted to sound offended.

"Oh yeah."

Gabriel began a tickle war that traveled from the sofa to the living room rug.

"Give up?" he asked.

"In your dreams Bowman."

"Oh my dreams are very different than this," he replied.

"Oh yeah? What are they like?"

"They involve a lot more of this," Gabriel said lifting Sara's head to his own. He kissed her sweetly then hungrily.

"You're good at that," Sara muttered breathlessly.

"Glad you think so."

"Let's work on some dream therapy on the couch," she instructed.

"Yes ma'am," he agreed with a smile.

TBC

A/N: I'll be better about getting the chapters out fasteror at least I'll try. Did I mention the fact my computer is being held hostage at CompUSA and I'm writing on my husband's? Never get between a graphics man and his computer.

A/N2: For you non- Gabe/Sara types there are all sorts of Ian/Vicky for next chapter.