"That was so amazing. I didn't realize they were so small, I mean, I guess I knew they had to be, but I've just never seen one so little." Sara was literally gushing as she and Nick walked back into the house hand in hand.

Nick had a grin etched on his face and he caressed the back of Sara's hand with his thumb as he held it.

"What's so exciting?" Nick's sister Natalie walked into the living room as the pair entered the house. Natalie was tall and thin, her eyes were brown like Nick's, but her brown hair had a reddish hue.

Nick glanced over at her. "Suzy foaled."

A smile spread over Natalie's face as she watched Sara. "Pretty incredible isn't it?"

Sara glanced up and smiled. "Yeah."

Natalie laughed softly. "I remember the first time I saw a newborn foal, Dad couldn't get me out of the barn for a week. Of course I was six at the time."

Nick chuckled. "Yeah, Natalie here is still crazy about horses, aren't you Nat?"

She nodded. "What about you, Sara? Do you ever ride?"

Sara smiled self consciously and glanced at Nick. "Well, I, uh."

Nick squeezed Sara's hand and kissed her on the cheek before turning back to Natalie. "Today was her first ride."

"Did you like it?" Natalie studied Sara's response.

Sara grinned and began to talk animatedly. "It was incredible. If I had known that it would be like that, I would have ridden a lot sooner."

Natalie grinned. "Well, I'm just going to have to take you out for a ride in the morning then."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Not too early, Nat. We work the nightshift remember."

"You can wake me up anytime, Natalie." Sara replied. "I pretty much live on coffee anyway." She grinned, the gap in her teeth showing.

Natalie glanced at her watch. "Hey, I need to get to bed myself. Jake and the boys are already sleeping."

"What time is it, Nat?" Nick queried, having lost track of time while they were out with the horses.

She tilted her head slightly, an amused smile playing at her lips. "11:30."

Nick chuckled and glanced over at Sara. "Maybe we should try and get some sleep, babe."

"Where are you guys sleeping so I know where to wake you up, Sara?" Natalie inquired.

"Sara's sleeping in my old room, I'm in Dan's." Nick answered for them both.

A curious expression momentarily crossed Natalie's face before she turned to Sara and gave her a hug. "I'm so glad you're here. I think you're good for Nicky." Over Sara's shoulder she mouthed to Nick. 'She's a keeper, you should marry her.'

Color infused Nick's cheeks as a grin spread over his face.

Natalie released Sara from the hug and leaned over and kissed Nick's cheek. "Goodnight you two."

Nick raised an amused eyebrow at Sara. "Wake you up anytime? Sara Sidle I do believe you're in love with those horses."

Sara giggled and slid her arms around Nick's waist. "Jealous?"

Nick wrapped his arms around her back and shook his head. "Nope. They're not really your type anyway." He had a twinkle in his eye.

Sara giggled again. "Is that so?"

Nick nodded. "Uh, huh."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "I guess I'll just have to settle for you then."

Nick laughed. "Way to make a guy feel special, Sar."

She leaned up and kissed him, smiling against his lips. As she pulled away, she gazed into his eyes. "Better?"

Nick nodded. "Yeah." He leaned down and kissed her again.

Sara pulled away and grinned at him. "I love you, you know that."

"I love you too." He leaned down and kissed her again.

They stood in the entry to the living room, kissing and standing in each other's embrace for quite a while, until they heard someone clearing their throat.

They broke the kiss and looked in the direction of the sound. Standing there with an extremely amused expression on her face was Nick's sister Lauren.

"Hey, Lauren. Didn't know you were here." Nick sounded slightly embarrassed, but didn't release his hold on Sara.

Lauren laughed. "That's obvious, Nicky." She walked over toward Nick and raised an eyebrow at him. She glanced at Sara. "Sara?"

Sara stepped out of Nick's embrace and extended her hand to Lauren. "Nice to meet you."

Lauren smiled and hugged Sara instead. "Handshakes are too formal, glad to finally get to meet you, I've been hearing about you for a while."

Sara had an amused expression on her face as she looked over at Nick. She crossed her arms in front of her body and raised a single eyebrow. "So, Nick, just how long have you been telling your family about me?" She tried to restrain a chuckle.

Nick looked somewhat sheepish.

Lauren looked amused at the exchange. "Sara, he's been talking about you for about three years. Haven't you, Nicky?"

Sara just shook her head and laughed.

A yawn escaped Lauren and she smiled as she looked at Nick and Sara. "Well, I'm going to turn in. Sam and the kids should be here in the morning. I just wanted to meet Sara." She hugged Nick and kissed him on the cheek, whispering in his ear. "Don't you dare let her get away."

Nick chuckled and a hint of color flushed his cheeks.

Lauren hugged Sara again and headed up the stairs. "See you guys in the morning."

Nick waved. "Night."

Nick and Sara made their way up the stairs and into the bedroom that Sara would sleep in.

Sara turned toward Nick and raised her eyebrow. "So what did Lauren say to you to make you blush?"

Nick pulled Sara into a hug. "She likes you."

Sara chuckled. "Really?"

"Yeah, she thinks I'd be an idiot to let you get away, an opinion shared by Natalie and Maddie, by the way." Nick added softly.

"I don't think Ashley and Amanda like me." Sara mussed.

Nick chuckled softly. "Sara, they have never liked anyone that any of us have dated ever. Don't pay attention to them, ok. They're both a little bitter about their own lives. What matters is that I love you, ok."

"Ok." Sara was quiet for a moment. "What about your parents and Dan?"

Nick chuckled. "Well, since they haven't told me, I don't know for sure, but based on their reactions, I'd say it's a fair bet they think you're pretty terrific." Nick kissed Sara's forehead and released her from his embrace, stifling a yawn. "I'm think I'm going to go to sleep."

Sara's face registered momentary panic. "Uh, Nick?"

"Yeah, babe?" He responded giving her his full attention as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Sara's looked sheepish. "Will you stay with me? Just to sleep."

He nodded with a soft smile. "Yeah, let me go change, ok."

"Ok." She answered.

Nick went through the bathroom into the other room to change. While he was gone, Sara slipped into a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. Nick returned a few minutes later wearing his boxers and a T-shirt. Sara crawled into the large bed and Nick turned the light off, crawling in after her. They lay there facing each other and as they talked softly, their hands linked under the covers.

"Nick, I'm glad I came." Sara whispered in the darkness.

"Me too." There was a smile in his voice.

"Do you really think they like me?" Sara's voice sounded unsure.

Nick chuckled and wrapped and arm around her, pulling her against him. "Yes, I know they like you. Even Amanda and Ashley will come around eventually."

"I love you." Sara fingers splayed out over Nick's chest and she leaned over and kissed him softly.

As they broke the kiss, Nick whispered. "I love you too, Sar."

They drifted off to sleep, arms around each other.