Sara woke up at one thirty. Gabby didn't have to be picked up from the sitters until four, but Sara was feeling selfish. She got up, got dressed and went to get Gabby.

On the way home Sara took Gabby to the mall for some spur of the moment shopping, they headed straight for LaSenza Girl.

"Hey Gabby, look at this dress. It would look so cute on you."

The dress was a green sporty dress. Large Hawaiian flowers gave the dress a flirty feel.

"I don't like dresses anymore."

"What? Why not? Your closet at home is full of dresses"

"I want to be like you, mom. You never wear dresses, so I'm not going to anymore"

"Tell you what, I'll go buy a dress, and we can go out to dinner before I have to work. We can go somewhere fancy, and dress up, and order food with fancy names"

"Deal, but I'm going to need a fancier dress than this one"

"Let's get this one and keep looking okay"

Gabby looked up at Sara and smile her agreement.

By five they were back at home getting ready for their night out, by six the ladies were well on their way to the restaurant, and by six-thirty they had been seated and served.

"Sara?"

Sara turned at hearing her name, and saw a very stunned Gil and a smug looking Sofia. She smiled politely as the bile rose in her throat at seeing them together.

"Hey Sofia. Gil,I guess your dinner invitation this morning really did mean nothing"

Gabby was sitting in her chair watching the adults interacting, waiting for the perfect moment to butt in.

Gil stared at Sara and Gabby and thought to himself, 'God they look beautiful. I wish I was sitting with them and enjoying life with them'

Sara and Gabby were wearing similar dresses. Both were elegant and black. Sara's was sleeveless with a plunging neck line, while Gabby's dress was simply elegant for a little girl her age, she looked like a little princess. Gil smiled a small sad smile at the realization that he would never be her father.

"Wow Sara, you look..." he was at a loss for words. 'What do you say to a woman who knocks the breath out of you when she wares a blue forensic jumper?'

Gabby had found her moment. "She looks beautiful doesn't she. Mom always looks beautiful, but tonight she looks happy too."

Sara blushed, Gil blushed, Sofia fumed, and Gabby looked on innocently.

"Sara" hearing her name roll off Sofia's tongue made her visibly cringe. "Since when do you have a kid? Is she some mistake that you are embarrassed of? She's what, eight, how come you nevermentioned her before?"

Sara looked at Gabby, smiled reassuringly, signaled the waiter for her check, paid and stood up.

"For you information, you little bitch, she is the most important person in my life, not that you would know what that was like. Don't you EVER talk about my little girl like that again or you will find yourself in a less than favorable position."

As Sara turned and saw the tears running down little Gabby's face she softened her tone.

"I'll see you at work tonight Gil"

As she turned and left Sofia finally found her voice. "Was that a threat Sidle?"

"More like a promise." Sara smiled took her little girls hand and walked out of the restaurant

Sofia turned to Gil, "What was that all about? She didn't have to bite my head off"

"Shut up Sofia! I really don't carethat you want to leave the lab. you know what, don't even bother signing all the right forms and shit. As of now you are fired. This...what ever 'this' is, is over"

"You can't do that!"

"I just did!"

By the time he got out to the parking lot, Sara was already gone. Two lone tears escaped his eyes. One for Sara and one for the family that he wished was his, but knew never would be.

Thanks to the following reviewers for your kind thoughts:

Moonpattern, Peggiegg, sassysarasidle, katie, dadsgirl4ever, Midnight's Angelic Guardian, leothelion04, nina90, planetmarz, and lastly, summababy.

I'm sorry this chapter is so short. The next one will be longer. Hopefully in the next chapter Sara will finish telling her story. When will Gil find out, and what will he do?