Sarah had planned on having space on this holiday. She had study that was long overdue and had planned to get some done.

"Is this where Maggie and team have hidden?" Connor asked with a grin as he pulled her suitcase further into the room, lining it up beside his so that they wouldn't fall over them in the tight space.

"I just have some textbooks in there." She explained, "It doesn't matter…"

"As long as it's not Doris, Maggie or Madison stowing away on our trip I'm happy." He said, "And it does matter."

He checked his watch, "We have plenty of time before the dinner starts, you could get some study in and I have a few journals that Halstead's been badgering me to read."

Her ex in college had always made fun of her wanting to study and Joey presumed she was so put together that she never had to study. It felt like a nice change that Connor saw her for who she was with no judgement.

So Sarah set herself up at the small vanity table and chair tucked up against at the wall and Connor laid back against the headboard of the bed, opening up his laptop. Sarah was just glad that her back was to him because seeing him all relaxed with one hand behind his head on their bed would result in absolutely zero concentration for her studying.

The soft touch on her shoulder made her jump.

"You really get into the zone when you study huh?" Connor's voice penetrated the silence as he removed his hand from her shoulder. "Sorry I didn't mean to startle you, I had been calling your name."

Sarah stretched herself back from the table and turned to look at him, "Sorry I get distracted. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." He was looking at her as if he was trying to solve a case at work, then shook his head slightly, "It's probably time to start getting ready?"

Sarah went and checked the time on her phone, "Crap that's the time? You're right." She shot up and the chair went to fall backwards but he caught the chair and put a hand on her waist to catch her too..

"It's okay Sarah, we have time." He said, somehow managing to calm her heart rate. "Do you want the bathroom first?"

That was how she found herself having another shower with Connor in the next room, it was becoming far too regular an occurrence. She dried herself off and got into a pair of pyjamas and went back into their room where Connor was taking out his suit.

She was styling her hair when he went to have a shower. She tried to keep her breathing calm when she heard the water stopping and a few minutes when he emerged. His hair was still damp and he was in the middle of pulling his shirt on and Sarah felt like she could nearly combust at the sight. He was telling her the bathroom was free but all she could focus on was his fingers doing up each button of his shirt.

She nodded frantically and grabbed the dress that she had panic bought for the trip. As she tried it on, she decided she liked it. The green velvet skimmed over her body and made her feel beautiful. Or it would if she could get the zip done. The dress swayed with her but didn't give her much room for maneuvering her hands to zip up at the back.

She was pretty sure she punctured a hole in her lip from how hard she bit it wondering if she could ask Connor for help. They had pushed this 'fake' relationship pretty far already but she also knew him and knew he wouldn't want her worrying.

She opened the bathroom door a fraction, "Connor?" She called.

"Yeah?" He asked, coming into view with his tie undone around his neck.

"I…eh can't get my dress to zip, would you mind?" She stuttered over her words until understanding dawned on his face.

"Of course." He said and twirled his finger in the air to beckon her to turn around so he could access the zip.

He held the dress material gently and his fingers skimmed the bare skin of her back. She was glad she had her makeup on already so it could conceal the red in her cheeks.

"Thanks." She said, keeping a hand on her hair to the side of her neck.

"Anytime." He said and it felt as if his very words brushed the back of her neck.

Connor did up his tie while Sarah put her shoes on and mentally prepared herself for a night with her mother.

"You've got this." He told her as she checked her appearance on the back of the room door for the third time and he slipped his hand onto hers, "I've got you. We'll get through this together."

He held her hand the entire way from their room, in the trip in the elevator and across the room until they found their seats at her mother's table.

That should have been the red flag that Sarah noticed considering that when she had ever attended her mother's events, as much as her mother loved to parade her about as a demonstration of her family values when needed, she usually seated Sarah at some obscure table off to the side.

The room was full by the time dinner was served. Sarah didn't know the majority of the people but did spot Hilary looking particularly stressed and her grand-aunt Sharon giving out to a waitress.

Her mother had been too busy talking to who Sarah assumed was her boss when Sarah and Connor arrived, the couple had gotten a smile and nod.

But after desert was finished it was a different story.

"Connor here," Sarah's mother practically purred to her boss and his wife, "Well he's practically my son in law at this stage, he's the heir to the Dolan Rhodes empire and he's an accomplished surgeon." Her mother's words felt like ice running down Sarah's spine.

That was the only reason she wanted Connor there, not to get to know Sarah's supposed boyfriend, but to use him as another pawn in her constant corporate ladder climbing game.

Heck, Connor's reputation was probably the only reason that her mother even wanted Sarah there at all.

Sarah knew that at the beginning they were supposed to be using Connor for his reputation but Sarah didn't want him to think that was why she liked to spend time with him now. Fear started climbing up her throat, what if he thought that was why she had brought him here? What if he thought that was her view too? What if….

The sudden cold and steel in Connor's voice made Sarah sit up and take notice, "Well I'm the lucky one, Sarah is the better doctor. She has an amazing career ahead of her." He sat back in his chair, away from the conversation and placed an arm around the back of Sarah's chair. "Do you want to dance Sweetheart?"

The band had started up a while ago but the floor was sparse of couples to say the least but she needed to get away from her mother.

She nodded, only looking at him because she knew if she looked at her mother her disappointment would just be compounded.

Connor stood up and offered his hand to Sarah, she gladly took it and held her dress in the other as he led her to the dance floor.

"Breathe." He instructed as he pulled her into his embrace, far too close to be considered real dancing. "It's okay. Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry. I had no idea that's why my Mom wanted you here. I thought she wanted to meet you as my 'boyfriend' not parade you around as a prize." She said earnestly.

He gave her a soft smile, "Sarah, I would never think of you like that. It sometimes feels like everyone I meet want me for my money and status. But never you."

She could focus on moving her feet then, he even twirled her around which made her smile and she knew that Connor would always make sure she returned safe to his arms.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. She got caught having to talk to a few of her relations, including her not-so-dear Great Aunt Sharon, the music ended up being too loud and Sarah could feel herself waning. The one comfort was the fact that Connor's hand never left her. If it wasn't tucked in hers, it was on her back or resting on her shoulder.

It was her second yawn that prompted Connor to ask her if she wanted to leave. She nodded and he led her out of the room, her hand in his and they didn't look back at her mother.

If it were possible, their room seemed smaller at night, Connor pulled the curtains and the very air seemed to get heavier. There then came the predicament of Sarah getting out of her dress he had zipped her into.

"Here, let me." He offered after she had taken off her shoes and stood frozen between the bed and the bathroom. If the first time had felt like a simple touch, then this time felt like he was tracing pure fire down her skin.

"Thanks." She managed to reply, her voice hoarse. Sarah took her things and disappeared into the bathroom to give herself a chance to get air back into her lungs. She changed into her pyjamas, took off her makeup and mentally braced herself for the night ahead.

Connor smiled softly at her before taking his turn in the bathroom.

Sarah sat on the edge of the bed until he emerged in a t-shirt that clung to his chest and a pair of sweatpants hung low on his hips.

"Ready for bed?" He asked quietly and Sarah felt the need to pinch herself and prove that the entire scenario was actually happening.

She hummed her agreement and he smiled, "Which is your side?"

"I'll take this side." She told him, climbing into the right hand side of the bed. She was quite sure their bed was smaller than a normal one by the time Connor was positioned on the left hand side, under the covers with her.

"Goodnight Sarah." He whispered into the dark as he turned onto his side to face her. Her body moved too as of it's own accord to turn to face him, "Goodnight Connor."

Sarah woke up splayed across Connor. They had somehow managed to tangle themselves around each other. Her head was resting on his chest, his legs were hooked around hers and her hands curled around his torso.

She was clinging onto him like a human koala. The best part was that he had encased her in his arms too, his head resting on her curls.

If she wasn't a doctor she'd swear that her heart froze in her chest out of panic of wondering how to untangle herself and not wake him up.

It wasn't fair that she her body fit his like a puzzle, it wasn't fair that she had just had the best sleep of her life. It wasn't fair that this was all for show and not real.

In the darkened room she felt her heart beat again, she so badly wanted it to be real.

She felt him stir around her before she heard his voice, "Oh…"

She was just glad he didn't remember moving to their current position either.

Sarah took her chance to move, "Uhh, hi." She lifted her head from his chest and tried to discreetly withdraw her arms and legs from him.

"Good morning." She wanted to record his morning voice to listen to later, on repeat. "Sorry." He moved with her, trying to untangle themselves.

"It's okay." She managed to reply as they found themselves in their original positions from the night before, facing each other. Her body ached from the lack of contact.

"Did you sleep well?" He asked.

She nodded quickly.

"What time is it?" He asked out loud, reaching for his phone, "Oh crap, we've missed breakfast, check out is in half an hour."

So no matter how much Sarah wanted to just lie there and look at him, they had to quickly get up and get ready to leave.

They were just getting ready to leave the room when a knock came to the door. Thinking it was hotel staff, Sarah answered it.

But instead she found her mother.

"Sarah." Her Mom's monosyllabic tone made Sarah practically shrink back into herself, she could never deal with her mother's disappointment well.

"Mom. Hi."

"You couldn't even show up to breakfast?"

"Sorry I…"

"I had important people to introduce Connor to Sarah. Do you even realize how much of a missed opportunity this is? He's a Rhodes, it'll do wonders for our reputation."

For once, she just wished her mother would love her for her, not for what career she was pursing, not for who she dated.

A hand came to rest on her lower back, as if Connor was literally being the rock she could lean on, "Excuse me Ms Reese."

"As much as I suppose I should be flattered, my reputation can do nothing for Sarah. Your daughter is an amazing woman, an amazing doctor and she'll achieve amazing things with or without me. You should be so proud of her and you should know that you are beyond lucky to have her." He told her mother in no uncertain terms. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a plane to catch, we have jobs to get back to."

That was how they left her Mom, standing there in the hallway with her mouth open.

"Connor, you didn't have to…"

"I said nothing but the truth Sarah." He told her with warm eyes.

The trip home was uneventful. Connor got a call to say that as soon as he landed back in Chicago he was going to be on-call and Sarah got a long list of messages from Maggie and co about how their trip went. They were equally glad to be able to turn their phones off for the flight home.

At one point on the flight, Connor nudged his shoulder against hers, "Are you okay?"

He was looking equally as pensive as she felt.

The truth was that she wasn't. It had taken her a while to figure out why she felt so melancholy on the flight. But the closer they got to Chicago, the closer they were back to people who knew her and Connor's relationship was all a lie.

At least in Connecticut people believed them, it made it easier for her to believe it herself.

She didn't want to leave their little bubble.

"I'll be fine." She replied.

"Did I overstep with your Mom?" He asked and she could only smile, he was a problem solver.

"No, no, thank you, for what you said." Sarah said, "I guess everyone will want a report when we get back."

"They mean well." He said, "I had a good time, regardless of how we ended up here."

They got back to Chicago and Connor was adamant he would drop Sarah back to her place instead of letting her get a taxi.

"Listen, Sarah, there's something I wanted to talk about." He said as they made their way to her apartment door.

"Sure what's up…" Her bright tone faded when she turned to see the look in his eyes. The hungry way he was looking at her made her want to cling to him like she had the previous night.

"I wasn't sure how to bring it up, the plane was too crowded and I didn't want to have this conversation while I was driving." He said, taking a step towards her and she let go of her suitcase handle.

"What is it Connor?"

"What if…" He seemed lost for words.

"What if…?" She prompted, focusing on keeping her hands to herself and not placing them on his face to get him to look at her. He kept looking between her and the ground, the door, anywhere as if the very view of her burned his eyes.

"I know we're in this fake scenario…" His tone was quiet and raw, sending a shiver up her spine.

"Yeah?" She idly wondered why she was whispering back but she couldn't do anything but respond to him.

His pager's shrill beep made them both jump. The both seemed to blink in time with each other, as if waking up from a dream. Waking them up from the reality that in the previous few seconds, she had taken a step backwards, as if beckoning him forward so he could lean closer to her as her back was resting against her door.

They had been breathing the same air, drawing each other in, drinking each other in.

"I have to go." He said hoarsely, fumbling with his pager.

She nodded, the ability to form words disappearing and watched him weave a hand through his hair and take a few steps back and gazing at her as if she herself might disappear in front of him. He nodded a final time when his pager howled again and made to leave. When he finally disappeared from sight Sarah let herself feel the effects of his proximity to her, her knees seemed to give out from under her and she leaned back against her door to give her support wondering what the hell would have happened if his pager hadn't gone off.

A/N: Not going to lie, I had such fun writing this chapter, I hope you enjoyed reading it :)