Thanks to my beta, Camilla Sandman.
"Do you want something to eat?" Nick asked, leading the way into his apartment, Sara close behind.
"Sure, I haven't really had much since before shift."
He turned to face her, smiling. "Do you want some pancakes?"
"Sounds good," she replied, moving towards the kitchen.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, grabbing her from behind and locking her in his embrace. She turned to face him, a teasing smile on her lips.
"To help you make breakfast."
"I don't think so," he said decisively, capturing her lips with his before she could protest.
After trading a few slow, lazy kisses, they pulled apart. "You're going to sit and relax while I make you breakfast," he told her, giving her one more quick kiss.
Sara watched him walk away, and smiled to herself as she sat down on the couch. It was hard not to remember him in a state of significantly less clothing at times, which could be rather distracting, but she was happy things seemed to be going so well between them.
She was mindlessly flipping through the channels when Nick reappeared, stepping in front of her and offering his hand to help her up. "You ready to eat?"
"Smells good," she commented as he pulled her up, following him over to the table. "Looks good too."
"I found some frozen blueberries and added them in. They're not fresh like the ones my mom use, but they're close enough," he explained, pulling out a seat for her. She took it gratefully, and found herself smiling at all the effort he had gone to.
They ate in silence, but after finishing her portion, Sara placed her fork down on her plate and leaned back slightly. "That was really good."
"I'm glad you liked them," Nick said, smiling at her. He stood up and had starting to clear the table when Sara got up and stopped him.
"There's plenty of time for cleaning up later," she said, looking at him suggestively. "You don't have to be into work until I do. Remember?"
"Do you have any ideas for how we can pass the time?" he asked, placing the dish back down on the table, taking a step closer to her.
"I might have a few," she replied, closing the short distance left between them.
"Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to guess?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her.
"I think you should be able to figure out one of them," she whispered, her lips brushing against his as she spoke. She abruptly pushed herself away from him before continuing, "But, if you're not up to it we can just watch some TV or something."
Nick stood still for a moment, his mind reeling a bit from Sara's hints. Once he was able to think clearly, he realized Sara was standing between the couch and his bedroom door, waiting. "Um," was all he managed to get out.
Sara smiled, happy that her actions had the desired effect. "So, which is it? Bedroom or couch?" she asked, not breaking eye contact with him.
"Bedroom," he said quietly, following close behind her as she led the way.
Alex and Greg hadn't gotten much chance to talk once they arrived at her apartment. They had stopped on the way to pick up some boxes, and kept busy filling them. Finally, Greg took what he hoped was the last box to her car and headed back in. Boxes all filled, he hoped they could talk for a while before she went back to Catherine's.
"Alex?" he called out, trying to find out which room she was in. "Is there anything else you want me to take down?" He didn't hear a reply so he headed towards her room, figuring it was the most likely place for her to be. He was about to call out to her again, but decided not to when he saw her laying on her bed, apparently asleep. Quietly, he started to back out of the room again, but stopped when she sat up.
"Go back to sleep," he told her. "You should try to get some rest."
"I wasn't sleeping," she replied, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a yawn. He was about to argue with her, but was cut off as she continued. "Do you really think I would be able to sleep right now?"
"I'm sorry. I just thought…"
"I know you're only trying to help. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. I should be the one apologizing," she said, looking up at him.
"Don't worry about it," he said, sitting next to her on the edge of the bed.
"I hate being like this."
"Like what?" he asked, unsure of what she meant.
"I hate all the uncertainty, my emotions are going haywire, one second I'm in the best mood, and the next I'm balling my eyes out," she tried to explain. She rubbed her eyes a little absentmindedly, and Greg could see the dark circles underneath.
"That's normal for what you've been through and are going through," he said, placing a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"I know, but I had hoped my mom would have called by now," she said quietly, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Then that would be one less thing to worry about. It's been over three hours. Now all I have left to do is sit here and wait."
"I'll be here as long as you want me to be," he said, hoping to reassure her a bit.
"Thanks. You don't know how much that means to me."
For a few moments, they sat together in silence.
"Alex?" Greg asked.
"Yeah," Alex said, tiredly.
"There's been something I've been meaning to ask you," he said, moving his arm down to her lower back.
"What is it?" she asked, picking her head up and shifting slightly to look at him.
"It's about my family," he started. "I haven't called them yet to tell them you're here. I wanted to wait to talk to you about it because I know they would be on the first flight and I didn't know if it would be too much for you yet."
"Oh," was all she said, fixing her gaze on the bedcovers, as if afraid to look at him.
"Do you still want me to call them?" he asked.
"Of course, but do you think you can get them to come without telling them about me?"
"I think I can manage that. They had mentioned coming for a visit soon. I will just tell them I have someone I want them to meet. They will assume it's my girlfriend, since they're always asking me if I'm seeing anyone."
"Thanks," she said, looking back up at him. "I think it will be easier if I see them in person."
"You're right. I don't think they would believe me if I told them over the phone," Greg said, letting out a small laugh.
"When do you think they can come?" Alex asked. She couldn't help but feel a sudden need to see them again, a reminder of happier times as they were.
"I'm not sure, but the last time I talked to them they didn't mention having to do anything anytime soon. I'm sure they will be able to come soon," he reassured her.
"Let me know as soon as you know when they're coming. I can't wait to see them. It's been so long, and… and… I never got to really say goodbye," she said, feeling tears sting her sore eyes again. She never did seem to run out of tears these days.
Greg took her in his arms, rubbing her back in an attempt to comfort her.
Catherine was happy the pounding music had stopped coming from Lindsey's room at last, but about an hour earlier, she only received an angry order to go away as a sign Lindsey hadn't snuck out and left. Feeling her daughter needed some space, she'd gone to her own room and laid down. She was still trying to nurse an oncoming headache when she heard a timid knock on the door.
"Come in," Catherine called out.
The door slowly opened and Lindsey stepped into the room. "Mom?" she asked quietly.
"Lindsey, come on in," Catherine replied, motioning for Lindsey to sit next to her. They both didn't speak for a while, Catherine unwilling to push, and Lindsey not sure how to start.
Lindsey was the first to break the awkward silence when she said, "Mom, I'm sorry I ran out like that before."
"It's okay, honey, I'm not mad a you."
"You're not?" Lindsey asked, turning to look at her mother with a surprised look on her face.
"No, I'm just happy you're talking to me now," Catherine said. "I thought I would get the silent treatment for a longer time. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. You deserved to know you have a sister."
"You said she was moving in with us?" Lindsey asked.
"Yes, she's at her apartment right now with Greg, packing some of her things," Catherine replied.
"When is she coming here?"
"Whenever you're ready to meet her. I know this is a lot to take in, so when you're ready, you can let me know," Catherine said, breathing a big sigh of relief.
"How did you find her?" Lindsey asked, obviously curious.
"Do you remember me telling you about that serial killer case I was working on?" Catherine asked. Lindsey nodded before she continued. "The other night another couple was attacked, and they were the couple Alex was living with. When we were working the crime scene, Nick and Sara found her in the woods behind the house. I didn't see her then, but the next day she came here."
"Was she hurt?" Lindsey asked.
"She got some cuts and bruises and needed some stitches, but otherwise those were her only injuries," Catherine said, not feeling the need to share any other details about what happened to Alex. If Alex wanted, she could share it with Lindsey herself.
Lindsey still had many questions. "Were the people she was living with, the people that adopted her?"
"No, I had given her to the Kesslers. When she was ten, they died in a car accident. She lived with an aunt for a short time, but then went into foster care. The Millers were the last family she lived with," Catherine explained.
"Oh," Lindsey said, trying to take in all her mother had told her. Suddenly she remembered something and asked, "Did you just say she lived with the Millers?"
"Yes," Catherine confirmed.
"Is her name Alexandra Miller?" Lindsey asked, getting excited.
"Yes," Catherine answered once again, wondering what Lindsey was trying to get at.
"Is she a model?"
"Yes, she told me she had done some modeling, but how did you…" Catherine started, but was cut off by Lindsey.
"Hold on a sec. I'll be right back," Lindsey said, jumping off the bed and running out of the room.
Catherine didn't have much time to wonder what Lindsey was getting work up over because less than a minute later she came running back into the room with a magazine in her hand.
"Is this her?" Lindsey questioned, holding out one of her latest teen magazines.
Catherine looked down at the magazine and was surprised to see Alex on the cover, wearing jeans shorts with a green halter top. 'She looks so happy,' Catherine thought to herself. She hoped that Alex would smile like that again one day, after this was all over. Oh, she hoped so very much, and she would do her best to ensure it.
"Mom? Is that her?" Lindsey asked again, getting impatient waiting for an answer.
Snapping out of her inner musings, Catherine said, "Yes, that's your sister."
"This is so cool!" Lindsey exclaimed. "Everyone at school is going to be so jealous when I tell them that Alexandra Miller is my sister. I can't wait to tell my friends, and to see the look on Trisha's face when I tell her. She is always so annoying and bragging about her new clothes or what her parents bought her. When can she come? Can you call her now and tell her to come?"
"Calm down, Lindsey, and slow down a second." Catherine said, surprised by Lindsey's enthusiasm. This wasn't the way she had pictured Lindsey reacting. "There's something else I want to tell you."
Catherine's last statement quieted Lindsey, and she sat down next to her mother again. "You're not going to tell me I have anymore brothers or sisters, are you?"
"No," Catherine laughed. "The only children I have are you and Alex."
"Okay, so then what is it?" Lindsey asked.
"You know Warrick and I have been good friends for a long time, right?"
"Yeah," Lindsey replied, prompting Catherine to continue.
"Well, we're dating now," Catherine said simply, figuring the direct approach was best.
"So, he's like your boyfriend now?" Lindsey asked.
"Yes," Catherine replied, trying to gauge her daughter's reaction. "Are you okay with that?"
"Of course," Lindsey said matter-of-factly. "He's cool, and it's about time you started dating him."
"What do you mean?" Catherine asked, feeling surprised again. It seemed she couldn't predict any of Lindsey's reactions properly today.
"I could always tell you two liked each other, and he always stays the longest when you have people over here from work," Lindsey said. "Can you call Alex now, and can I go call Lisa and Ashley?"
"Sure, go ahead. I'll let you know when she'll be here," Catherine said, letting out a big sigh of relief as soon as Lindsey had left the room. She felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Besides Lindsey's initial outburst, things had gone a lot smoother than she had thought they would. Lindsey knew, and didn't mind Alex coming over. Seemed excited about it, in fact.
That resolved, Catherine reached over to her nightstand, picked up the phone and dialed Alex's number.
"Hello," Alex answered.
"Hi, Alex," Catherine greeted. "I talked to Lindsey."
"How did it go?" Alex asked. She sounded slightly nervous.
"Great. Lindsey was upset at first, and locked herself in her room, but after a few hours she came out and we talked. She's really excited and can't wait to meet you."
"Really?"
"Yeah, she's calling her best friends right now to tell them. She showed me one of her magazines you were on the cover of and apparently, you're well known at her school. She already has it planned how she is going to tell everyone she knows," Catherine told her. "She wants you to come over as soon as you can."
"I'm happy to hear that," Alex said, and sounded it. "I already have my car packed, so I should be able to be there in about twenty minutes."
"That sounds good. The front door will be unlocked, so you can come right in," Catherine told her. "I love you, Alex."
"I love you too, Mom. I'll see you soon," Alex said.
"Okay, bye," Catherine replied, placing the phone back on the nightstand.
About twenty minutes later, Catherine and Lindsey were standing in the kitchen when they heard the front door open. They made their way to the front foyer, but Lindsey stopped when she saw Alex. She clearly wasn't sure how to approach.
"Hi, Lindsey," Alex said carefully, closing the door behind her, and setting her bags down.
"Hi," Lindsey said, remaining very still where she stood.
"Why don't you two go talk in the living room, and I'll get something started for dinner," Catherine suggested.
"Okay," Lindsey said, breaking out of the trance she had been in, leading Alex into the other room.
A while later, Catherine had poured the pasta into the drainer and decided to check on how things were going. But the sight greeting her in the living room made her pause in the doorway and just watch, feeling tears prick her eyes. Alex and Lindsey were sitting next to each other on the couch, talking and acting like they had known each other for years, instead of the actual thirty minutes they had.
A/N: I hope you all liked this chapter. If there is anything you really want to see happen, let me know and I will try to fit it in. Thanks so much to those that are still reading and an extra thanks to those who review. Reviews make me so happy! I appreciate everyone for being so patient with me. I know it has been forever since I updated but I have been dealing with a lot of stuff. Thanks again for sticking with me and please review!