A/N: Hey all! I'm really sorry for not updating in like…forever. I've been grounded since February. God damn parents….erg! Oh well I'm here now and here's the next chap. I'll try to update again ASAP!

Chapter 5

" Mommy!" Grace yelled from Sara's bedroom.

"Yes baby?" Sara said breathlessly as she ran back into her room.

"I can't tie my shoes…Will you help me?" Grace asked as tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Of course baby." Sara said as she bent down to tie her daughter's shoes. "All done. Let's go" Sara picked Grace up and walked out into the living room where Nick was waiting.

"Ready to go gals?" Nick asked as he saw Sara and Grace approaching.

"Yup" They replied in unison. Nick stood up and wrapped an arm around Sara's waist and headed for the door.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ 2 Hours Later ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Sara this is the last apartment for rent that isn't run down, or have rats. What was wrong with the last 16 apartments we looked at?"

"I don't know. I just want everything to be perfect. I need somewhere close to a school, I need a safe neighborhood, and I need perfection Nick. This isn't just a place to live. This is my baby's life we're talking about here!"

"Sara! Calm down! OK I understand where you're coming from, but nothing is going to happen to her in a not so perfect apartment." Nick and Sara had been arguing for the last hour. Grace was asleep in the back of the Denali, Nick and Sara were in the front of the truck.

"Nick…can you just take us home? It's been a long day and I have a lot of thinking to do. I'm still so overwhelmed. I need to get Grace enrolled in a good school, which means I have to find a good one. I need a house, I need to know what my daughter is like, and I need her to know why she was left with her father. I need a coffee…I need…" Nick cut her off by pressing his lips to hers in a hungry kiss. Nick cupped the side of her face gently with one hand and wrapped the other arm around her waist pulling her closer to him. A few minutes later they pulled apart, chests heaving. "Wow, I needed that." Nick just smiled and wrapped Sara in a tight hug.

"Sara everything will turn out fine. Ya know, Catherine says that Lindsey's school is really good. Maybe we could find you a house around that district."

"Nick, I can't afford a house." Sara said as she buried her head in Nick's chest.

"We could buy one together…I mean my apartment is kind of lonely. And I mean we don't have to share a room. And this will give us a chance to really get to know each other, and I could help you out with Grace, and house payments and I won't be in your way. It wouldn't be like we were dating, or anything…"

"Nick are you rambling?" Sara asked with an amused grin etched across her face.

"Ha, yeah. But what do you think? I mean we sleep in different rooms. Nothing to fast. And I want to date you, maybe someday marry you. But we'll take things slow."

"Nick did you just say marriage?"

"Yeah, but don't listen to me, I'm rambling. Remember?" Sara giggled. "Are you laughing at me Sidle?"

"Yea, you're cute when you're embarrassed."

"Ha ha funny. OK, now that we've calmed down. Let's take you home, put Grace to bed, and we'll talk more about this house deal. Sound good?"

"Sure."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

About 20 minutes later Nick and Sara were settled down on the couch in Sara's living room. Nick was lying down and Sara was scrunched up, facing him. "Nick are you sure you want to do this. I don't want you to give up your life just for me and my daughter."

"Sara, you and you're daughter are my life. I mean I want you to be. I want to be part of your life, and I want to grow old with you. I want to watch our kids grow up and give us grandkids."

"Whoa, whoa whoa. Grandkids? Already? Nick, we're not even dating, slow down." Sara smirked.

"I know, now matter how long it takes to get there though Sara, I'll wait for you."