a/n: Thanks for your reviews! and NothingButSarah, I think inspired is the right word :)
a/n: and 'pop' is 'soda', for anyone who might contract confusion.
a/n: sorry for the delay, the ending and I are having a bit of a spat. part 11/13

Sara spied Olivia sitting on the edge of the pool with Lindsay, both in matching red one-piece suits. The little girl had been quite taken by their matching swimsuits and had insisted they do everything together. In fact, Liv seemed to get along with all the children here. Sara envied her friend's ease with kids, something she could never manage.

Suddenly, a noise behind her caught her attention. She turned in time to see Nick, Warrick and Bobby dumped Hodges into the pool, fully-clothed. Hodges surfaced sputtering and red-faced, and watched the guys high-five each other and walk away. Hodges eventually pulled himself out of the pool. Some of the kids tried to help, but he just shook them off. One of the little girls he shooed started to cry. He tried to shush her, but her mother came running over and collected her daughter away from him. Shoulders slumped, Hodges disappeared into the house.

"What's his deal?" Liv asked Sara. Sara tried to hide her surprise at her friend's sudden arrival.

"No one likes Hodges very much." Lindsay supplied before Sara could answer.

"So I gathered. Why?"

"He's just really awkward with people." Sara said.

"He's arrogant, he over-steps his authority, and he's just plain rude." Lindsay said.

"How do you know so much?" Liv asked Lindsay as she picked her up and sat her on her hip.

"I just listen." Lindsay seemed quite proud of herself.

"Been learning from your mother, haven't you?"

"Yes, and Sara too."

"Really?"

"Of course! Would I lie?" Lindsay was quite serious, and her little fists on her hips cracked both Liv and Sara up. Lindsay smiled, happy that they were happy. The lunch bell rang.

"Are you hungry?" Liv asked her.

"Yes, I am." Lindsay said.

"Well, let's go get some food." She put Lindsay down to let her run ahead. Liv watched as Catherine and Grissom worked the barbeque, serving people like a well-oiled machine.

"What's their story?" Liv whispered to Sara.

"I'm really not entirely sure. I showed up a little late. They have a lot of history, but I don't think they've ever gotten together."

"Really? They behave like an old married couple."

"Except when you're around." Sara pointed out.

"Well, that's hardly my fault." Liv said, trying not to laugh.

"That she gets territorial? No, not at all."

"I am not after her man."

"That's not how she feels." They were now too close, so they stopped whispering.

"Veggie burger for you too?" Catherine asked Liv.

"Yes please."

"Mustard?"

"Oh, I can do that." Liv reached for the bottle, but it was too late. Catherine had already squeezed the mustard, which exploded, sending some onto Liv's bathing suit.

"Oh my, I am so sorry." Catherine said, her insincerity leaking right through. Liv held her breath and counted to ten.

"That's okay," Liv sighed, "I'll just go wash it out now. Sara, hold my burger?" Sara nodded around her mouthful. Liv headed into the house and rinsed the mustard out. Fortunately it came right out so she just left her suit to hang dry in the bathroom. She got dressed again, tying on her wrap instead of putting her pants back on. She wasn't going to let Catherine ruin her fun.

"You okay?" Sara asked her when she got back to the patio, passing back her burger.

"Yeah, it came right out." Liv went off to dress her burger her way.

Greg opened the cooler and passed Sara a beer, who turned it down. Greg did his best not to smile or look for Liv.

"Any pop in there?" Sara asked, trying to keep her voice calm and level. Greg did smile then and started to list them off, secretly very pleased with this new development.

"Ah, you made it." Liv greeted Jim. Jim smiled at her,

"Good to see you again. Wasn't sure when you were going back to New York." He said to her.

"Tomorrow afternoon. I'll be sad to leave." She said, then laughed, "And I put up such a fight before leaving."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh, the boss played the 'take some time off or we make you' card. I made such a stink too."

"I can see why you and Sara get along so well, you're both workaholics." Liv just shrugged, it was true. Jim looked over at Sara, "I spy Sara drinking pop at a barbeque, did something happen?" He asked Liv quietly. Liv nodded,

"We had a little talk this morning. She was in serious denial. But I think I got through to her." Liv watched Sara laughing, looking so much more relaxed than before. Then Liv noticed that Greg was also drinking pop, 'good for him,' she thought, then said to Jim, "And now she knows that her family's looking out for her. It won't be easy, but she'll get through it."

TBC...2 parts to go :)