The waitress soon bought their coffees and Jared watched her place two sugars in hers and stir it as they sat in silence.

"Okay," she said putting down the teaspoon. "What else are you here to ask me about?" She knew she could make it easy on him and just fess up about Danielle, but she wanted to see if her hunch was right.

"Well," he started. "It may be none of my business. And I am sorry for prying if it's not. But Chris saw you at the school shooting, with a young girl, who called you mommy and well judging on her age… it made her think that that child could be..."

"Yours?" She asked raising her eyebrows. She had been right. He simply nodded, feeling very awkward. He briefly dropped his gaze, before looking back up to her.

"Danielle, is not yours Jared." She said with a kinder tone. But as she hoped to see relief in him, she instead saw his confused face, then turn to anger and hurt. She realised he might be assuming that she moved on fast or cheated on him, so she continued.

"Danielle isn't biologically mine either."

"What? But?" He looked up confused.

"I adopted her. Almost 3 years ago now. She was a newborn."

"Oh, um, wow, I'm sorry. I..." He kind of felt like an idiot now, but still hadn't fully processed what she had just told him.

"No, it's okay. If roles were reversed, I probably would have jumped to the same conclusion." She shrugged.

Jared smiled at her and asked, "So, tell me that story. Why did you adopt her? Is she a relative or?"

"Well," Caitlin chuckled slightly. "I guess this is where my ambitious career woman speech will seem hypocritical." Jared looked at her confused.

"Go on," he said slowly watching her with intrigue.

"Okay, Danielle was orphaned during a trial I was prosecuting. Her mother was a victim in the case, when she was involved in a car accident on her way to court at 39weeks pregnant. She was rushed to hospital and after 2 days on life support, she went into labour, and Danielle was born. They tried, but could find no living relatives to take her, other than an elderly uncle who was 96, and lived in a retirement village in Utah."

"And how did you come to decide to adopt her?"

"Well, I guess seeing the helpless adorable newborn of a woman I had been working to protect was what changed my views." Jared looked at her still confused. She continued, "I was friends with the social worker who was given her case. She showed me a picture a tiny baby Danielle over lunch one day and told me that she would have to go into the foster care system. And that's when I just knew I had to try and help her."

"So, um? Her name?" He asked, squinting into the sun, and slowly taking his gaze back to Caitlin.

"Yeah," She nodded with a pause as she took a sip of her coffee. "I know you liked it, and that we had talked about it, but no, that isn't why. I actually named her after my cousin Danielle. Her middle name is Mae after her too."

"That's really nice Caitlin," Jared nodded. "You surprised me with that alright." He chuckled.

"I know right. I am sure you thought I had gotten pregnant and ran off when Chris told you about seeing me and ..."

"Yeah, I'm sorry." He grimaced.

"Hey, not your fault. I get it. We've, um, both done things we regret." Caitlin added. Her mind still swirling with questions about whether she did the right thing or not.

"Suppose I should let you get back to her or work or..."

"Hey, you wanna meet her? Molly is minding her just in the park over there." Caitlin asked with a smile as she picked up her handbag.

"Oh, um," he stammered surprised. He didn't want to appear rude and say no. And to be honest he was kind of curious about her and seeing Caitlin as a mother.

"Okay, I guess so."

Molly was very surprised when she glanced up from the picnic rug to see Caitlin walking towards her smiling and laughing with Jared at her side. Molly tilted her head and wore a very confused look. The young girl who sat playing quietly at her side, put down her drink bottle and climbed to her feet, running towards Caitlin.

"Mommy," she exclaimed, with her arms out wide.

"Hey babycake." Caitlin smiled, picking her up and hugging her tightly. "Are you having fun with Aunty Molly?"

"Uh huh," she nodded.

As they took a few more steps to reach the blanket on the grass Caitlin held out her hand to motion to Molly.

"Jared, you remember Molly Hicks," she said looking between them as Molly stood up.

"Of course, nice to see you again Molly." He smiled kindly. Vividly remembering the awkwardness with her, himself, and Chris at SWAT HQ.

"Likewise." Molly smiled, and as Jared looked at Danielle, she shot Caitlin a very confused stare. What on earth was happening here? Had they clicked that well during their coffee date? Caitlin glared back at her, and Molly read the vibe. She knew she should give them some privacy.

"I'll um just go get a refill." She smiled holding up her empty coffee cup.

Caitlin smiled at her and mouthed, "Thank you," as Molly headed away. "So," she began looking at Danielle, "there is someone I'd like you to meet missy." Danielle's eyes went straight to Jared. "This is Jared, can you say hi,"

Her brown eyes stared at him for a second before she shyly rested her head on Caitlin's shoulder and said a soft "Hi".

"Hi there," he smiled back. Raising his hand up to hers, gently stroking it and asking, "So what's your name?" Danielle smiled nervously and looked away briefly as Caitlin guided her attention back.

"Danni," she answered quietly.

"And how old are you Danni?" he asked smiling at her.

"Three," she answered holding up her three middle fingers at him.

"Wow, such a big girl," He laughed.

"I wanna go play." She said looking at Caitlin and pointing to the playground.

"Okay sweetie," she said putting her down. "Go on, 10 more minutes."

As they watched her run off, she smiled. Jared stood with his hands in his pockets.

"She's a cute kid." He said, glancing back at Danielle.

"Yeah, a sweetheart." Caitlin nodded as she motioned for him to sit. Jared took a spot on the edge of the blanket, keeping a good distance between them. They sat and talked about smaller things in their lives for a while before Danielle came back over. She picked up her rainbow-coloured ball and walked to Jared.

"Catch?" She smiled. And before long Jared and Danielle were a few metres apart playing a very adorable game of catch. Caitlin smiled watching this scene unfold before her. Danielle seemed very comfortable with him, and he was great with her. She suddenly realised that she was feeling and thinking things she shouldn't be though. Watching him laugh and play with her made her imagine a life they could have had if she hadn't run out on him back then. She felt a sick heavy feeling of regret in her stomach. She wished she could go back to that crossroads in her life and make a different choice. As she tried to fight off those thoughts, she felt Molly come back beside her. Molly bent down next to her.

"Nice sight, isn't it?" She smirked.

"What?" Caitlin asked horrified. Wondering if Molly had recognised what she was thinking about.

Molly just smirked and wiggled her eyebrows at her before nodding her head to Jared and Danielle. "Look," she laughed. "I gotta run. Are you going to be okay if I…?"

"Yes, of course. Go." Caitlin waved her hand. "And thank you for this. I really appreciate it."

"Not a problem, but we MUST have another night of dinner and wine to debrief." She laughed pointing at Caitlin and standing back up with her bag.

"Bye honey." She called to Danielle who ran up and hugged her.

"Bye Jared, nice to see you." She smiled as she walked away back to her car.