CHAPTER 14

FRIDAY NIGHT: AIRPORT

            "Dad" Emma says happily, as she sees her Dad waiting as she steps off the plane. Dropping her backpack her arms go around his waist. "I missed you Daddy."

            Ian returns the hug "I missed you too." He kisses the top of her head "Come let's get your things and head home."

            "Where's Mom?" Emma asks not seeing her Mom.

            "They called her into work."

            "Oh"

            "She'd have come if she could." Ian picks up her backpack "Besides you'll see her later tonight or tomorrow."

            "Oh"

            "How was your flight?" Ian asks slinging his arm around her shoulders as he leads her to pick up her bags.

            "Same as always."

            "How is Lauren?"

            "Grumbling." Emma laughs

            Ian smiles "Well she can visit anytime she wants. There's even a bedroom for her."

            "I told her."

            "And what about school?"

            "Said later and told a few people off."

            "Emma" Ian groans

            "Not my teachers." She assures

            Ian kisses the top of her head "That's my girl."

OVER AN HOUR LATER: HOUSE

            As his phone rings, Ian picks it up flipping it open he presses talk. "Yes?"

            "Hey."

            "Hi." Ian smiles hearing Sara's voice.

            "Where are you?"

            "At the house. What about you?"

            "Taking a short break. How's Emma?"

            Ian looks at his pajama-clad daughter sitting on the couch eating cookies and intent on the movie she is watching. "She's good. Eating cookies and watching a movie." He answers. "How is work?"

            "Sucks. I wanna be with you and Emma."

            "How much longer until you're finished?"

            "Midnight."

            "See you then?"

            "Probably. Depends on if I'm too exhausted to stay awake long enough to drive."

            "Long night?"

            "To say the least." She sighs. "I better get back before Dante chews me out. Give Emma a kiss for me."

            "I will." Ian hangs up going over to the couch he leans down kissing the top of his daughter's head. "From your Mom."

            Emma tilts her head "Is Mom coming over?"

            "She's not sure. She'll be here tomorrow if not tonight." Ian sits beside her.

AFTER MIDNIGHT

            Ian looks at Emma as her head rests on his chest. He strokes her hair gently 'My baby girl is growing up.' He glances over towards the entryway as he hears the front door open. As Sara enters the room, he smiles.

            "Hi" Sara makes her way over to the couch.

            "Hello my love."

            Sara smiles seeing Emma asleep with her head on Ian's chest. "How long has she been asleep?"

            Ian shrugs "A while."

            "Why didn't you wake her up and send her to bed?"

            "Just felt like holding her." Ian admits sheepishly. After a minute, he gently shakes Emma. "Em its time to go up to bed."

            Emma burrows closer then opens her eyes and sits up. "Daddy I'm tired."

            "I know but its time for you to go up to bed."

            Emma smiles sleepily seeing her Mom. "Hi Mom"

            "Hi sweetie."

            "Go on up to bed. We'll be up in a minute to say goodnight."

            Emma stands and sleepily trudges out of the living room.

            Ian stands pulling Sara close. "I missed you." He murmurs brushing her hair back.

            "I missed you." Sara echoes kissing him lightly. "Come on let's go say goodnight and head to bed."

            "Sounds good to me." Ian guides Sara out of the living room and up the stairs. Once at Emma's bedroom they find the teen sprawled out on the bed fast asleep.

            Sara smiles "Poor baby was so tired she wasn't able to make it under the covers."

            Ian enters the bedroom and carefully maneuvers Emma under the covers tucking her in.

            "Daddy?"

            "Yes Em?"

            "I miss Felix."

            "He'll be here tomorrow." He kisses her forehead "Night."

            Emma snuggles into the covers.

            Ian joins Sara in the doorway and trails his fingers down her cheek.

            Sara pulls him into the hallway and closes the bedroom door. Leaning up she kisses him deeply. "God I missed you."

            Ian smiles against her lips "Same."

            "You know I think this is the longest we've gone without making love since we got back together." Sara muses

            "Mmm, can't have that." He picks her up carrying her into his bedroom closing the door he sets Sara on her feet and locks the door.

WHILE LATER

            Sara snuggles against Ian "I love you Ian."

            Ian presses his lips to her hair "And I you."

3AM

            Ian awakes startled and glances at the clock with a frown. 'Something is off.' He carefully maneuvers his way out from under Sara trying not wake her.

            "Ian" Sara murmurs feeling the bed shift. "Where you going?"

            "To check on Emma." Ian answers getting out of bed he pulls on his discarded pants and walks out of the bedroom. He goes across the hall entering Emma's bedroom just as the girl awakens with a start. Ian sits on the edge of the bed "Emma?"

            "Daddy" Emma whimpers

            Ian turns on the bedside lamp only to have Emma throw her arms around his neck. "Another bad dream?" He asks concerned as he feels her body shake.

            Emma nods sniffling as she tightens his arms around his neck.

            "What was it about?" Ian asks calmly as he strokes her hair.

            "You went away and never came back." Emma says with a whimper.

            "Emma that will never happen, you know that." Ian says gently. "I will always come back."

            "I don't want you to go away." She sniffles

            "I don't plan to" Ian assures. "I promise I will never leave you. You are my child and you mean everything to me."

            Emma nods wiping at her tears she releases her Dad and lies back down.

            Ian brushes away a few tears staining her cheeks. "Go back to sleep."

            "Stay 'til I fall asleep?"

            "Of course." Ian turns off the lamp. "Everything will be OK Em. I promise."

            "'k"

            Ian sits on the edge of the bed as Emma drifts back to sleep. After a few minutes, he quietly walks out of the bedroom and returns to his own. He finds Sara asleep in the bed and he slips back into bed curling his body around hers.

            "How is she?" Sara asks sleepily.

            "Asleep."

            Sara rests her hand over his resting on her hip. "You OK?"

            "I'm fine." He kisses her shoulder.

            "What was wrong?"

            "Another nightmare."

            Sara turns her head "About what?"

            "The same as always... that I leave and never come back. She's been having the same dreams for years, usually when she's stressed or worried." He kisses her cheek "We should get some sleep. I love you Sara."

            "I love you too."

NEXT MORNING

            Emma trudges into the kitchen and smiles sleepily when she sees Hugo and Felix sitting in the living room. "Felix" she says happily. She sits on the floor hugging her dog. She giggles as Felix licks her face. "Hey no doggy kisses." She looks at Hugo. "Hiya Hugo" she rolls her eyes as the dog just snorts.

            Ian and Sara smile at the sight.

            "Morning Em" Ian greets

            Emma looks at her parents "Morning."

            "You're awfully cheerful for 10 AM." Ian remarks

            Emma shrugs kissing Felix's head. "When did you pick them up?"

            "We just got in." Ian says "I was about to bring Felix upstairs."