CHAPTER 8
NEXT MORNING
Ian lifts his head glancing at the clock frowning when he doesn't hear any morning movement coming from Emma's room. He looks at Sara asleep beside him and carefully gets out of bed hoping not to wake her.
"Ian?"
"Go back to sleep." Ian says softly. "I have to go get Emma up for school."
Sara rolls over pulling the covers up mumbling sleepily.
Ian walks out of his bedroom heading to Emma's bedroom he enters to find the girl sprawled on her back fast asleep. "Emma it's time to get up." He turns on the light.
Emma groans rolling over burying her face in her pillow.
Ian sighs going over he pulls the covers off the girl. "Get up." He orders
"Dad..." Emma yawns, "sleeping."
"Lauren's Mom will be picking you up in forty-five minutes. Get a move on."
"Do I have to go to school?" Emma whines
"Yes. You took yesterday off you're going today. If you aren't downstairs in 20 minutes you're grounded for a week." He walks out of the bedroom just as Sara stumbles out of the bedroom.
"Coffee" Sara demands
Ian chuckles "Come on." He takes her hand leading her down the hall.
Sara follows Ian down the stairs her eyes barely open. "Coffee" she mumbles as they walk into the kitchen she sits at the table her head hitting the tabletop.
"You lucked out... coffees ready."
"Gimme coffee" Sara orders, "or no sex."
Ian chuckles lightly "Big threat my love."
"No teasing me before coffee." Sara mumbles
20 MINS LATER
Emma trudges into the kitchen rubbing her eyes she walks over to her Dad standing at the stove. She stops beside him her head resting on his arm. "No school." She mumbles
Ian kisses the top of her head. "Yes school." He says firmly "Go sit down breakfast is almost ready."
Emma grumbles pouring herself a cup of coffee joining her Mom at the table. "Stupid school too early." She mumbles
Slowly waking up Sara gives her daughter a sympathetic smile. "I always thought school started too early as well."
"Daddy why can't I be home schooled?"
"Because you don't want to be." Ian replies sighing when he sees Emma has coffee. "Emma you know the rules."
"Fine... milk."
Ian sets a plate of bacon and eggs before Emma and another before Sara. "Felix out of the kitchen."
Felix just looks at his master then back at the table.
"Felix bowl." Ian orders
Felix slinks out of the kitchen heading to his bowl on the edge of the kitchen. "Hugo" Ian calls as he pours Emma a glass of milk as his dog enters the kitchen. "Bowl."
Hugo goes over to his bowl to eat his breakfast.
"Here Emma." Ian sets the glass beside the girl kissing her head.
"Thanks." Emma mumbles taking a sip of her milk.
30 MINS LATER
"Bye" Emma yells slamming out of the house.
"I hate when she does that." Ian remarks as the sound vibrates through the house.
"Is she always like this?"
"She's always in a hurry." Ian answers
"How are your ribs?"
"Not too bad." Ian shrugs
"How bad are your bruises?"
"Not as bad as he could do."
Out in the car Lauren looks at her best friend awaiting her explanation. When Emma doesn't respond just looks at her house morosely, Lauren rolls her eyes, "So what's the big freakin' deal? Why isn't Martha taking you to school? Or your Dad?" Lauren demands "And why are you looking so depressed?"
Emma just stares at the house.
"Emma, are you OK?" Lauren's Mother Mrs. Wilson asks concerned by the girl's silence.
"My Mom's here."
"What?!" Lauren exclaims her eyes wide.
"That's great Emma." Mrs. Wilson smiles at the girl in the mirror as she drives away from the house. "You and your Dad must be excited."
"Is that why you didn't come to school yesterday?" Lauren asks
"No. I was sick." Emma explains. "They got here late in the afternoon."
"What's her name? What is she like?" Lauren demands
"Her name is Sara. She's nice. Dad loves her a lot."
Inside the house Sara and Ian sit on the couch talking. "On Emma's first day of school here she was nine. We had moved here just before the school year started. She had never gone to school in the states so she was a little scared." He smiles slightly. "Father had stayed a few days wanting to see how I would be after going through detox. He just kept pushing Emma to get to school but she was just so scared that she wouldn't let go of me. In the end, I had to carry her out to the car while she squirmed to get away. She was not happy."
"Sounds familiar. Up until Mom died that's what they did every year on the first day of school. They would pull the covers off and drag us out the front door." She looks at Ian with a smile. "Doubt anyone has ever had to drag you out of bed or to school."
"There has only been one time he has ever had to drag me to school."
"When?"
"First day of boarding school when I was ten. I had never been away from him for a long period of time and without my Nanny. He fired my Nanny and sent me to boarding school." He looks at their laced fingers. "That first day I learned how different I was."
"What about Emma's first day?"
"She was so excited when she got home from school... she had met Lauren and the two became fast friends." Ian shrugs. "There is something else I want to show you." Ian says suddenly as he stands walking over to the bookcase in the living room choosing a book off the top shelf. "Emma doesn't know some of these survived her rampage a few years ago." He opens the book removing a couple pictures and looks at one of them. "There was this book Emma loved but she only let one person read it to her." Ian sits beside Sara handing her a picture of Emma on Irons lap as he reads to the two-year-old.
"Irons?!"
Ian nods "Emma adored him and he put up with her."
"And now she hates him." Sara muses "Why?"
Ian's eyes go to the wall. "When she was three he lost his temper in front of her." He glances at Sara wincing when he sees the horrified look on her face. "After that she refused to go near him without someone she trusted near by. He never did that around her again." He says relieved.
"Does she remember?" Sara questions.
"I don't know." Ian admits. "I think it might be part of her nightmares."
"Is that how she found out?"
Ian lifts his shoulders "She had seen the bruises before but I never told her exactly how I got them. As she got older she just started to understand everything."
"And he's never hit her?"
"He tried once but I stopped him." Ian looks down "I could never let him hurt Emma. I can handle him hurting me but not Emma."
Sara reaches up brushing her fingers down his cheek. "Thank you." She sets the pictures aside and climbs onto Ian's lap taking his face between her hands her eyes locked on his. "I'm glad she's with you happy and safe." She kisses him.
NOON
"I guess it's time to start looking for a house in New York." Ian muses
Sara looks at him "I thought..."
Ian runs his fingers down her back. "I miss not seeing her every day. I don't want to keep you two apart any longer. I was going to wait until the quarter was over before moving her to a new school but I don't think she could last that long." He tilts his head thoughtfully. "I just had a thought."
"And what is your thought?"
"Move in with us." Ian suggests. At her surprised expression he continues "Its your choice but I thought it would be an easy way for you to spend as much time with her as you want."
"I'll think about it."
Ian nods glancing at the clock. "It's noon. Hungry?"
"Starved." Sara admits. "Guess we should get up and go in search of food."
"Better idea." Ian grabs the bedside phone. "What do you want to eat Chinese, Italian, Thai, Pizza, or Japanese?"
"You choose... I hate making food decisions."
"All right." Ian kisses her forehead.
HOUR LATER
"Coffee and Chinese." Ian announces entering his bedroom to find Sara wearing one of his dress shirts sitting in his bed watching the news.
"Coffee" Sara says happily, as she takes the offered cup. "Thank you." She kisses Ian sweetly then takes a sip of the coffee then sets it on the nightstand. "What did you get?"
"Everything double." When Sara lifts her brow he explains, "Emma loves Chinese and if she finds out there are no leftovers she gets cranky. We've gotten to the point where we just order double."
"Double?"
"She likes food." Ian shrugs
"At least she's not one of those kids who never eats." Sara says dryly. "Hand me the fried rice."
"For a kiss" Ian bargains
Sara smiles seeing the twinkle in his eyes. "If I say no kiss?"
"I'd still give it to you but don't you think I'd deserve a reward?" He asks hopefully.
Sara feels her insides melt at his hopeful expression. "You sure do deserve a reward." She leans in kissing him lightly.
Ian smiles "Here you go" He hands her the rice. "As you wanted."
3PM
"Hey" Emma greets walking into the living room where she finds her Mom once again looking at pictures. "Still looking at those?" She leans over the back of the couch.
Sara smiles turning her head, "Hey sweetie." She reaches up patting Emma's cheek. "I like looking at the pictures. Gives me an idea of what you were like growing up." She finishes sadly.
Emma climbs over the back of the couch settling beside her Mom.
"So how was school?" Sara asks
"Sucked as usual." Emma drops her head on her Mom's shoulder. "Where's Dad?"
"On the phone with Irons."
"Ahh." Emma scrunches up her nose.
"Anything happen at school?"
"The normal stuff. Kids getting caught making out in the halls. Almost fight during lunch." Emma shrugs "Nothing really interesting."
"There's some Chinese in the refrigerator if you're hungry."
"Yeah" Emma jumps off the couch running to the kitchen she skids to a stop in front of the refrigerator. "Food" Emma says happily.
"Emma did you let Felix and Hugo out?" Ian asks as he enters the kitchen.
"Hi to you too Daddy." Emma rolls her eyes "I've only been home for a few minutes." She goes over to the sliding glass door opening it she lets the dogs out to the backyard.
Sara joins Ian as he leans against the counter. "How pissed off was he?" She asks as she carefully slips her arms around his waist.
"He was actually in a good mood."
"The only time he's in a good mood is if he's made major bucks or the bitch is back." Emma muses
"Emma" Ian says warningly.
"Oh come on Daddy you've called her worse."
"Who?" Sara asks curiously.
"Xenobia Blacque." Ian answers his voice annoyed. "She was originally going to be the only female in our unit but Father decided it wouldn't work."
"She had a thing for Dad." Emma informs her Mom.
"Oh really?" Sara looks at Ian lifting her brow.
Ian shrugs sheepishly "Only until Emma kicked her."
"Why did you kick her?" Sara looks at her daughter.
"I didn't like her... she's one scary lady." Emma says with a scowl. "She tried doing the whole 'Oh you are so cute' line but it didn't work. Then she got too close to Dad and I kicked her in the shin." Emma smirks.
"Good for you" Sara grins "making sure your Dad doesn't get hit on by scary chicks."
"Hey I'm a big boy." Ian grumbles unamused. "I can take care of myself."
"Sure honey." Sara rolls her eyes.
"It was pretty funny seeing a six-year-old and an adult glaring at each other." Ian chuckles lightly.
"I didn't trust her." Emma states.
Ian smiles at his daughter, "When Emma was little she was very... territorial." Ian explains to Sara. "Any time there was some woman she didn't know in the house she would refuse to leave my side. Sometimes Father would want me to join them for dinner and Emma wouldn't leave my side. I'd be sitting there and she'd come barreling into the dining room and crawl onto my lap or sit on the floor holding onto my leg."
Sara smiles at the image of little Emma clinging to Ian.
"Hey I may have been a kid but I didn't like some of the women who came to the house. Didn't trust them."
"What are you going to do this afternoon Em?" Ian asks changing the subject.
Emma shrugs "Other than eat this who knows."
"Homework?"
"Almost done."
"Go." Ian tilts his head towards the door. "Take your food upstairs and finish your homework. I want it all done by dinner."
"All right." Emma sighs gathering the food she walks out of the kitchen.
"So just who is this Xenobia?" Sara asks curiously.
"No one you need to worry about. She stays away from me. Has since Emma kicked her and Father warned her to stay away."
"Jealousy issues huh?"
Ian shrugs "No I don't think so. I don't think he wanted me to be distracted with anything else."
Sara looks at him. "Were you distracted by her?"
"No." Ian assures. "I was only polite to her because they were involved."
"Always Mr. Nice." Sara teases.
"I try." Ian smiles slightly.
"How are your ribs?" Sara questions concerned knowing their morning romp could have hurt him even more.
"I'm fine." Ian assures "Though the scratches you left..."
Sara slides her hand under the back of his sweater brushing her fingertips over the scratches on his lower back. "Guess I'll have to be more careful." She murmurs brushing her lips over his cheek.
"Doesn't bother me."
HOUR LATER
Sara looks at Ian as he absently plays with her hair while they lounge on the floor, Ian sitting with his back against the couch and Sara next to him her head on his shoulder. "I wish we didn't have to go back."
"It's not like your never going to see her. Only a few weeks then you'll be able to see her whenever you want."
"True." Sara smiles, "I can't wait. I've missed a lot." She says sadly.
"Anything you want to know I'll tell you."
"I know. It's just not the same."
"I guess it isn't." Ian agrees after a moment of thought.
"Hearing about it and seeing pictures is great but not the same. I missed everything... first time she rolled over, crawled, walked, talked... everything."
"You may have missed that but she's still growing up Sara. There's a lot more to see."
"I know." Sara runs her fingers over his lips. "How will she take the idea of moving?"
"I'm betting good. When I told her I had to return to New York without her she didn't like the idea and begged me to let her come too. She'll be excited... though she won't like the idea of having to wait a few weeks."
"When are you going to tell her?"
"After dinner."
Sara smiles leaning in she kisses him lightly. "I love you."
"I love you" he echoes smiling back "and always will."
DINNER TIME
"Sara can you go tell Emma dinners ready?" Ian requests.
Sara nods leaning up she brushes her lips over his cheek. "Sure."
Emma lies on her bed watching the Simpsons when she hears a knock at the open door. She looks up to see her Mom in the doorway. "Hey Mom." She turns back to the TV.
Sara enters the bedroom sitting beside Emma. "I like that." She strokes Emma's hair.
"Like what?" Emma looks at her Mom curiously, as she sits up.
"Hearing you call me Mom. It's what I dreamed about since the moment I found out I was pregnant." She gives Emma a sad smile. "I never thought I'd hear that." She brushes Emma's hair back and kisses her forehead. "Dinner is ready."
"OK" Emma turns off the TV getting off the bed she walks with her Mom downstairs.
HOUR LATER
"Really?"
"Really" Ian nods
"YEAH" Emma jumps into her Dad's arms
Ian grunts in surprise and slight pain yet catches his daughter. "Happy?"
Emma nods resting her head on his shoulder.
Sara watches as Ian strokes Emma's hair.
"I promised you Emma that nothing would keep us apart too long." Ian says softly.
Emma nods lifting her head she kisses his cheek then returns her head to his shoulder and holds her hand out towards her Mom.
Sara smiles slightly joining them.
11PM
"How are your ribs?" Sara questions as Ian walks out of the bathroom.
"Better. I heal fast." Ian sits on the bed.
"Even with Emma jumping on you?"
Ian shrugs "I'm used to it. She used to do it a lot when she was little. Now that she's bigger she doesn't do it very often."
"Your bruises are fading." Sara remarks as she gently touches one of the bruises on Ian's back.
"Soon they'll be gone."
"How long until others replace them?" Sara asks bitterly then mentally slaps herself when she sees Ian stiffen visibly. "Sorry." Sara carefully wraps her arms around his upper chest.
"It's OK." Ian shrugs "You're right sooner or later new ones will replace the old. I've gotten used to it." He sighs heavily. "I'm used to it Sara yet I'm sick of it." He rests his head on her shoulder. "I'm sick of it Sara but I have no choice... not until I can convince him to sign over full custody of Emma."
"What do you mean?"
"I only have partial custody. Father is still her legal guardian. I sign everything, pay everything but to New York he is still her legal guardian." He looks at Sara, "Emma doesn't know. I never saw the point in telling her." He runs his hands over his face. "Its one of the reasons I don't just take off. If I leave him he would start the process to have Emma taken from me."
"What will he do now that you went against him in telling me?"
"I don't think he'll do anything. I think he expected this to happen sooner or later."
"What are you going to do?"
"I think he and I need to have another discussion."
"Do you think he'll agree?"
"I don't know. I hope so."
"Me too." Sara brushes her fingers down his beard.
Ian captures Sara's lips in a searing kiss as he lowers Sara onto the bed.
CHAPTER 9
NEXT EVENING: PLANE
"What are you going to tell Danny?" Ian asks curiously. "I take it you never told him about Emma."
"No he doesn't know." Sara admits. "Marie always thought he deserved to know since we spend so much time together. I just kept putting off telling him. I almost told him a few times but..." She shrugs. "Not many people know. Marie and Joe's kids know but I think Joe warned them not to say anything." Sara rubs her forehead. "Aras is in total denial that I was ever pregnant. Right after Emma was born; Aras decided that things would go back to the way they were... like I was never pregnant. We've gotten into a few arguments about it over the years."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I made the decision to have Emma." Green eyes meet brown "I don't regret it Ian. I never regretted that afternoon regardless of everything." She brushes the back of her fingers down his beard. "Now the regret I had in giving her up is a lot less."
"It is?"
"I still regret it but now it's less because I now know that all this time she's been safe, happy, and adored."
Ian kisses Sara's knuckles. "Since the second I held her I adored her." He laces their fingers "I survived everything he has put me through because I knew I had to live for her... for you." He looks down. "Without Emma in my life... I don't know what I'd do."
8PM: SARA'S APARTMENT
"Stay?" Sara looks at Ian hopefully.
"I can't." Ian replies apologetically as he tucks a loose hair behind her ear. "I can't put off going back."
"Are you going to talk to him about Emma?"
"Soon." Ian kisses her gently. "I have to go."
"I know."
"I love you Sara."
Sara smiles sadly. "I love you Ian." She watches as he walks down the stairs.
25 MINS LATER: 1111 FAUST
"I see you've returned." Kenneth remarks as Ian enters the library.
"Hello Ian" Xenobia Blacque purrs looking Ian over.
Ian ignores her lavacious gaze his eyes on his Father.
"How was your visit?" Kenneth inquires
"Good."
"How did she take to seeing her mother?" Kenneth asks
"Very well." Ian answers
Kenneth nods "Immo is waiting to see you."
Ian nods "Yes sir."
HOUR LATER
"Luckily you heal fast." Immo states as Ian pulls on his sweater. "How is Emma?" Immo asks
"She's all right."
"Good. Now you're well enough to return to work."
Ian nods "Thank you Immo." He walks out of the med lab his phone ringing. He fishes it out of his pants pocket flipping it open. "Yes?"
"Any chance I can convince you to come over?" Sara asks
"I can't."
"Oh fine. I'll just sit around in my underwear my only companion being a gallon of mint chocolate, chocolate chip ice cream, and a sucky movie on TV."
Ian silently groans at the thought of Sara in her underwear. "I can't."
"Oh fine."
"I have to go Sara."
"All right."
"I'll call you later." Ian promises
"OK" Sara hangs up.
Ian stares at the phone in his hand. "Oh hell."
20 MINS LATER: SARA'S APARTMENT
Sara hears a tap at her window and looks over to see Ian on the fire escape. She grins about to set the container of ice cream aside only to drop the spoon on her thigh. "Damn." She mutters "Oh well." She sets the spoon in the ice cream and stands going to the window she opens it ignoring the dripping ice cream. She unlocks the window stepping back as Ian pushes the window and climbs through. "What are you doing?" She laughs as he closes the window.
"I couldn't help it." Ian shrugs taking her face between his gloved hands kissing her deeply. "I needed to see you."
"You just saw me."
Ian lifts his shoulders removing his gloves his eyes go to her thigh where the ice cream is sliding down to her knee. He moves to his knees.
Sara gasps feeling Ian lick the ice cream off her leg as she pulls his knit cap off running her fingers through his hair.
Ian lifts his head with a teasing smile on his lips. "Miss any?"
Sara lifts her shoulders "You could have. I guess you'll have to check and see."
MIDNIGHT
Sara lifts her head from Ian's chest looking at him as they lay on the floor of the living room their clothes strewn about. "Did you talk to him?"
"No." Ian smoothes her hair back. "I didn't get the chance. X was with him."
"You really don't like her do you?"
Ian lifts his shoulder avoiding Sara's gaze.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You aren't telling me something." Sara states firmly.
Ian sighs, "Last time I was in town while X was around Emma wasn't with me."
"What happened?"
"Found her in my bed and kicked her out." Ian admits slightly embarrassed.
"And?" Sara's eyes narrow.
"Father found out and told her not to try that again or he'd cut her off from all of his resources."
"How many of his lovers have tried that?"
"Only X. All of the others came around with a clear understanding that I was off limits. He was involved with this one woman when Emma was about 2. She was nice. While they were together, he hit me maybe a handful of times. She found out and told him if he hit me again she'd break it off... he stopped... for a while. I think she made him happier than I had seen him since I was little. Her name was Elizabeth. She used to take Emma to the park or the zoo, Emma really liked her. I half expected them to get married."
"What happened to her?"
"She died in a car accident and he went back to his old ways. It wasn't long after she died that he beat me in front of Emma. X is the only one Emma didn't like."
"She met all of them?"
"Most of them. Considering we lived with him most of the time there was no way to avoid it." He sighs. "I have to go soon."
"Why?" Sara pouts
"Because both of us have to go to work and if I stay we won't get any sleep." He kisses her lightly.
"When?"
"Soon. But right now..." He kisses her teasingly. "I'm right here."
Sara grins "Good." She deepens the kiss.
NEXT MORNING: 1111 FAUST
"Father we need to talk." Ian announces
Kenneth looks up from his paperwork annoyed at Ian's disruption without permission. "About?"
"Emma is moving to New York."
"So?"
"I want full custody... I have done everything you have requested from our original agreement. I have been taking care of Emma since the day you brought her to me. At the time you having custody of her wasn't a problem."
"And why is it now?"
"I haven't left Father. Even with living in another State, I have kept our agreement. I have proven that I won't take off with her."
"Why wouldn't you now that you are back together with her Mother?"
"Sara has a life here. I have more reasons to stay then just wanting to keep Emma."
Kenneth stands regarding Ian as he walks. "Perhaps you are right. You have proven yourself when it comes to everything."
"Father I have asked little from you over the years and never for myself but for Emma."
Kenneth tilts his head then nods "You've kept your end of our original agreement. You have finished your training and schooling even with raising the girl. If I agree to this how do I know you won't run?"
"Why would I run Father? I have no reason to run now. Sara knows the truth and we're back together regardless."
"I will call the lawyers and have the paperwork started to sign over full custody to you... without the original provisions except you continuing to work for me."
Ian nods "Agreed."
"I will get the lawyers right on it."
"Thank you Father."
BOSTON: SCHOOL
"So what's the deal?" Lauren demands as she joins Emma at her locker.
"Dad decided."
"About what?"
"I'm moving to New York." Emma grins at her friend.
"WHAT?!" Lauren exclaims "When?"
"A few weeks. Dad still needs to find a house and enroll me in school there."
"You can't go." Lauren protests
"Lauren you don't understand."
"Your my best friend."
"We'll always be best friends." Emma assures
"Then what don't I understand?"
"My parents have been apart for fourteen years... now they're back together. I want them to be together." Emma slams her locker shut. "Seeing them back together is all I've wanted my whole life. Maybe one day they'll even get married if the evil bastard doesn't stand in their way."
Lauren sighs "I know how much this means to you. I just wish you weren't going so far away."
"Hey come on we'll still talk on the phone and I bet I'll be able to convince Daddy to let me come visit."
"You better visit." Lauren warns
"I will." Emma assures grinning at her friend. "Now come on let's get to work."
EARLY AFTERNOON: CAR
"Well what was the emergency?" Danny asks as the three partners sit in the car during a stakeout.
"Not like you to disappear so suddenly." Jake McCartey agrees.
"Is Aras in trouble again?" Danny questions concerned.
"Aras?" Jake asks puzzled.
"My twin." Sara glances back at Jake. "If she comes to town stay away from Aras... I love my sister but she's nothing but trouble." She warns
"Uh identical?"
"Mirror." Danny answers "You can tell them apart because Aras is left handed."
Jake nods "Got it. Left handed version of you stay away."
"So where were you?" Danny asks turning his attention back to Sara.
"In Boston." Sara takes a sip of her coffee.
"What's in Boston?" Danny questions as he takes a drink of his own coffee.
"My daughter." Sara answers calmly waiting for the news to sink in with her partners.
"DAUGHTER?!" The two exclaim together.
"Since when do you have a daughter?" Danny demands
"Her name is Emma and she's 14. She lives in Boston with her Dad." Sara explains. "Well normally... since Ian works in New York now and she still has school she stays in Boston. She's moving here at the end of the quarter."
"Your daughter is 14?" Jake says surprised.
Sara nods "Yes. She was born just two months before my 16th birthday."
Suddenly it hits Danny. "Nottingham?!"
Sara looks at her friend "Yes. It's a long and complicated story."
"So when are we going to meet your daughter?" Jake asks curiously
"Not for a few weeks. Ian still has some things to figure out first."
"You gave custody to Nottingham."
"No." Sara admits "I actually put her up for adoption put she ended up with Ian somehow."
"You know Lee is going to be pissed you never told her." Danny warns
"I know." Sara sighs
"So what's she like?" Jake asks
"She looks like Ian and has his brains but she's definitely a Pezzini." Sara laughs
"Well look who it is." Danny says suddenly
Sara follows his gaze her eyes narrowing "Gallo."
"So what's the deal with Gallo?" Jake asks
"He killed my Dad." Sara answers clenching her fists. "And my best friend Maria." She watches the dark-haired man walk down the street with his bodyguards. "One of these days I'll nail him to the wall."
"We've come close." Danny says "But he always gets around the charges."
"He won't one day." Sara says "One day whoever is protecting him will have to stop."
"Don't worry Pez we'll end him." Danny assures
MIDAFTERNOON: VORSCHLAG
Kenneth looks up as Ian enters his office. "I spoke with the lawyers and the paperwork will be ready by the end of the week."
"Yes sir."
"Now the plans for the California office. Has security been decided?"
"I'm still going over the plans. So far I have found no problems."
"When will you be finished?"
"A few more days."
"Good." Kenneth nods "Now about my appearance at the museum next week."
"Will X be attending as well?"
"I will see if she is planning to stay that long."
Ian nods
"And when will the girl be coming down?"
"Not for a few weeks."
"Why don't you bring her down next weekend?" Kenneth suggests
"I will think about it."
"Good." Kenneth waves his hand in dismissal.
COUPLE OF DAYS LATER: 1111 FAUST
'Long couple of days.' Ian sighs splashing warm water on his face. Hearing the bedside phone ring, he turns off the water and grabs a towel. He dries his face of as he heads to the bedroom grabbing the phone. "Yes sir?"
"Mr. McKinley is here with the paperwork."
"Yes sir. I will be right down." Ian hangs up going to the closet he drops the damp towel down the laundry chute and grabs a clean knit sweater pulling it over his head then pulls on his boots tying them. Within minutes, he's in the study joining his Father and the lawyer Jonathon McKinley. "Gentlemen." He greets
"Ian" Mr. McKinley greets with a warm smile at the young man he has known since childhood. "Kenneth has signed the paperwork. All you need to do is sign it and you will receive full custody."
Ian nods signing his name to the paperwork then looks at his Father. "Thank you."
Kenneth nods.
HOUR LATER: SARA'S APARTMENT
Sara opens the door to find Ian waiting there. "Hi" She smiles warmly.
"Hi." Ian smiles back.
"What?" Sara asks seeing the twinkle in his eyes.
"He signed it."
"Really?" Sara grins
"Really." Ian cups her cheek. "He signed over full custody of Emma without any provisions."
Sara throws her arms around his neck hugging him tight.
Ian lifts Sara off her feet hugging her. "She's safe from him." He murmurs against Sara's hair.
"He can't threaten to take her from you?" Sara asks hesitantly.
"He can but he now has no legal right to her."
"Come inside." Sara says. Once inside she looks at Ian "Are you going to leave him?"
"No. He has too many answers to too many questions. If I leave I'll never get the answers I need to so many questions I have."
Sara sighs "One day though?"
"One day." Ian promises "When the time is right."
Sara wraps her arms around his waist her head going to his chest. "I missed you."
"I missed you." He echoes
Sara lifts her head looking at Ian "Do you remember how it was after we first kissed?"
"We had to ignore it happened whenever we were around everyone."
Sara nods "Then when we were alone we couldn't stay apart."
"And Maria found out."
"Yeah" Sara smiles at the memory of the afternoon Maria caught them kissing. "She'd be happy."
"About what?"
"That your back." She turns looking at Ian. "When I told her she asked me why I gave up."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing." Sara admits "She was the only one who ever knew, understood, and believed I loved you that much."
"You miss her."
Sara nods burying her face in his neck. "She was my best friend. Why did he have to invade our lives?"
"Who?"
"Gallo. He killed Dad and Maria. Its because of him all of this happened." She sighs "But I can't think of what could have been. I can't change the past."
"We have the future Sara."
"I know."
MIDNIGHT
"This one?" Sara runs her finger over a scar on Ian's hip.
"Training. I didn't move fast enough." Ian answers watching as she presses a kiss to the scar. As she lies next to him, Ian notices a couple faint marks on her lower belly. He gently touches the marks looking at Sara curiously.
Sara looks down at his fingers brushing over her belly then back at Ian. "From Emma." She explains. "I'm surprised you noticed them."
Ian shrugs leaning down he brushes his lips over the faint marks. "Sara?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell me about when you were pregnant." He says hopefully
"What do you want to know?" Sara runs her fingers through his hair.
"I don't know... whatever you haven't told me."
Sara runs her thumb down his cheek. "When I was pregnant I jumped out of my skin every time someone hugged me or even touched me. I couldn't stand it."
"Why?"
Sara brushes her forefinger down his nose. "Because I wanted you to be the one touching me. It was like my whole body was screaming for you." She explains. "Dad couldn't even hug me without me cringing or even bursting into tears." She blinks back tears "The last time I saw him I wouldn't... couldn't let him hug me." She chews on her lower lip. "All I wanted was to be in your arms... having you tell me everything would be OK."
Ian wraps his arms around her "I would have done anything to be there."
"I know." Sara brushes her fingers down his beard. "Before Dad died that was the only problem I had. I had little morning sickness nothing big. Until Dad died."
"And then?" Ian prompts
Sara looks away "Right after they told me Dad was dead they thought I was going to have a miscarriage from the shock. Not long after that night, I just started feeling sick all the time. I could barely stand or be near food without getting sick to my stomach. My emotions were erratic and my dislike of people touching me grew."
"And what about Aras?"
Sara sighs "She wasn't any help. She upped the pressure on giving Emma up. She'd go from ignoring the fact I was pregnant to telling me I was making a mistake in keeping her to just plain ignoring me." Sara says sadly. "She sometimes blamed me for what happened. Said that if I hadn't gotten pregnant Dad never would have gone to work that night." She brushes the back of her fingers down his cheek. "For a long time part of me agreed that it was my fault he died."
"It wasn't Sara."
"I know that now but it took me a long time to realize that."
Ian pulls her close hugging Sara tight. "I'm sorry all that happened."
Sara snuggles close. "I dealt."
"I love you Sara."
Sara smiles at the words "I love you Ian."