"What did I miss?"

Yep. Definitely dead!

They all tumbled statements on top of each other.

"Do you know who it is?"" Who's the father?"" Thought you would look out for her!" "Why didn't you tell me?"

Oooh, That Catherine! Have I said that she bugs me already?

Jim get's filled in with what has happened already and just smirks. It's only a fleeting one though as the poker face goes back on and he listens intently to those who are speaking.

Slowly he puts his hand up and waits till everyone is silent.

"I think it's brilliant! And if you cannot feel the same way then you are not friends!" he states and all of a sudden I am in love with him all over again. The way he said it, so strong, so true, so magnanimously. Maybe that will silence them for a while. Hope so. Either that or I am going to become very hormonal and start throwing things! Hang on a moment... He missed a part of the sentence... you are not HER friends!!!! Let's hope no-one noticed. Unless he wanted them to.

See I am hormonal. I can't work out what should be the simplest of things. Is he defending me? Is he admitting to an us? Is he defending us?

Now I'm getting annoyed. That is the last thing he should be doing! We do not need defending! There is nothing wrong with an us! How dare he think that we have to justify our happiness! We are entitled to happiness. More than most seeing what we do everyday! I stare at him and he turns his head to meet the stare.

"What? Would you rather me say something else, something that's not true? This is your gig remember. You said you wanted to handle them. I quote. They are my team. I will explain. You don't have to worry about it. I will deal with them. End quote! Have you changed your mind?"

I hate him!! He can see how I feel right now and he's teasing. How could he! I would kill him right now if it wasn't so public. I could swear hormonal self-defence!

Just as I am about to snarl back at him, he grabs me and pulls me into his lap. Busted. I can't help it but I curl into his neck and sob my apologies. He understands. No-one ever thought they would see this. A weak Sara Sidle. Not supposed to exist. But I have changed. More than anyone but this wonderful man knows. He has given me a life and a future that I never dared myself to dream.

Everyone knows about my childhood. Or lack thereof. I stopped dreaming of Prince Charming and a perfect life before I was left nursery. I had already seen what husbands did to wives, what fathers did to children. I didn't want any part of it. Then I met Griss. He started to break the barriers down. He taught me that not all men were like my father. Then he brought me to Vegas and introduced me to one Jim Brass. No-one could have prepared me for him! I felt secure in his presence, safe in his gaze. I swear, if you could see a connection being made, the electricity would have put the bright lights of Vegas to shame!

At first we were both shy of it, trying to ignore the responses that were becoming harder to ignore, being so familiar with each other and yet pretending that it did not matter. Then Brenda came along. Other incidents happened too, but that was the catalyst. Neither of us wanted to let her go. There were differing reasons for the appeal but the end product was the same. In some bar off strip, where neither of us should have been, we promised that no other child of this sordid town would know what that girl had if we could help it.

We started a charity. The police, CSI department, fire department, in fact most agencies have all donated to it at one time or another without knowing who founded it. We have an excellent team of lawyers, accountants and god knows who ensuring that. Of course we were not "together" at that point. In fact we seemed to be trying our damndest to ensure that it never progressed to that level. But who were we kidding?

So, here we are. Years later, sitting in a diner, me in his lap sobbing because of hormones that are three fold, explaining what has been happening under their noses as if they aren't supposed to be the best in the country and already have worked this out! The way things go in this world huh?

I hear Jim taking a deep breath as he starts the story. Everyone around the table listens intently and asks questions as he is going on. Even Griss who thought he knew the story. I laugh as I realise that all he knew was squat really. At the end of the story everyone was quiet and I dared to look out from my hiding place. They were all staring but the malice had gone. Regret and embarrassment showed instead.

Then, as I moved back into my own seat, something changed. Everyone was smiling, if not laughing.

"You are right. You deserve our blessings and all the happiness that you can grab. I am sure that I speak for all wishing you the best for the future. But! Do not think that you can get away with not having a wedding party! You are going to have the biggest baby shower known in this town and soon!"

Maybe I was wrong about Catherine, as I watch the boys nodding their heads in agreement. Or maybe I should watch out tomorrow!