AN: Thanks again for all the feedback and ideas :)

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Chapter 8 - Like Mother like daughter

Catherine walked through the main entrance of Harvard physics passing a blushing Dana on the way. Catherine didn't know if she should speak to the women or not but she thought she should at least say Hello.

"Hello" Catherine said addressing the women before her

"Hello Ati Da-na" Lizzie beamed at the women

"Hi Lizzie" Dana said patting the young girls head

"Hi I'm Dana Fielding" Dana said putting her hand out to Catherine

Catherine took the other women's hand and looked up "Hi I'm Catherine Willows"

The women exchanged glances and Dana broke the glances

"You have a brilliant daughter Catherine, she's only been here a short time but she's really proving herself to be a very promising student"

"Thanks Dana, I wasn't sure if she'd settle but she seems very happy and it's good to know she's working hard"

"Believe me she is……… so are you looking after this little monster today?" Dana said smiling down at Lizzie

Lizzie looked up at Dana and frowned "I no a monster I am a ickle girl"

Catherine couldn't help but smile at the girls frown, She was a mini Sara Sidle indeed.

"I am looking forward to spending my afternoon with this little one, she's like a mini version of her mother"

"She is isn't she, she's a little cutie pie"

"So have you been friends with Sara long?"

"For a few years since she started working here…… she's a good person and a fantastic teacher. When she comes round to our house my husband will sit there for hours listening to stories about back in Vegas and you CSI's his particular favourites was one involving a comment you made to Sara about decomposed body in a bath…… it's raining man juice was it" Both women giggled

"that was so long ago but yep that was one of mine and Sara's cases……… CSI just isn't the same without Sara around. I miss seeing her hidden in her lad"

"So she was a workaholic back in Vegas too"

"She was indeed……… so do you look after this little one a lot?"

"Not that much. I help out when Sara needs someone. When she has her management meetings at night we'll have Lizzie over and when Me and my husband want to spend some time alone Sara looks after our daughter Megan"

"That's good……. I mean that she has someone"

"Catherine can I ask you something?"

"Yes sure"

" I was just wondering why you're here…….. Wait that came out wrong I mean it's just that I don't want Sara to get hurt"

"I'm glad Sara has someone to look out for her…. But Dana I would never hurt Sara. I….. I care about Sara a lot and I just want to see her….. make sure she's ok and well I want to try……."

Catherine stopped mid sentence she wasn't sure how much Dana knew about her relationship with Sara and didn't want to say anything to upset Sara.

"Catherine it's ok. I mean I know about you and Sara she told me she loves you and about everything that happened back in Vegas"

"She told you she loves me?" Catherine asked with a huge smile

"Errm I…."

"It's ok you can relax Dana she told me too and….. I told her that I love her too"

"Phew that's good then really thought I'd put my foot in it then"

"No you didn't it's ok"

"Well I better get going. I have your daughter to teach"

"Ok well it was nice speaking to you and I promise you I have no intention of hurting Sara"

"It was nice to meet you, maybe we'll speak again soon…. Bye Catherine, Bye Lizzie" and with that Dana left and heading down the corridor "Bye Dana" Catherine called behind her.

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Catherine strolled through the park pushing Lizzie's stroller with one hand and holding the Childs hand in the other.

'God it's been so long since I last did this' Catherine thoughts drifted to thought of Lindsey at Lizzie's age. She remembered when her baby girl was so tiny and helpless, so sweet and innocent. Catherine laughed as she thought of the image she had of Lindsey of a baby and the image of what her daughter was today. She was now taller than her Mother and anything but helpless.

"Where shall we go first sweetie?" Catherine looked down at Lizzie

"Lizzie want scweam!" the child beamed at Catherine

"What Lizzie? what do you want?"

"Scweam, I want some scweam" Catherine was still not understanding what the girl was saying to her and she could see that Lizzie was getting angry at not being understood.

"Ok honey you take me where you wanna go" Catherine indicated for Lizzie to lead the way. It wasn't more than 10 steps before the pair landed in front of an ice cream van

"Scweam Cafareen" Catherine smiled as the child pointed her free hand and tiny index finger in the direction of the ice cream van

"Ice cream huh"

Lizzie nodded

"Well Lizzie, if we go play for a little while then I will buy you an ice cream before we leave the park ok?"

Lizzie looked up at Catherine with a frown which indicated her disapproval but the child didn't argue she rose her eyebrow and frowned and then continued to walk along

"Definitely her mothers daughter" Catherine laughed to herself

The pair played in the park for hours Catherine chased the mini Sidle over a grass verge before catching the little girl and giving her a hug. Lizzie laughed uncontrollably as Catherine swung the little girl over her shoulder and span around in a circle calling the Childs name. Catherine put the child down, steadying her to ensure she didn't fall over. Catherine bent down and kissed the Childs forehead and looked at her watch seeing the display to read 4.30pm.

"come on honey it's almost time to go and get mommy do you still want your ice cream?"

"Lizzie want scweam" the child beamed grabbing for Catherine's hand

"Ok baby but we will not be telling your mommy about this" Lizzie nodded along not paying any attention to what Catherine said she was too exited about getting an ice cream.

Catherine took Lizzie for ice and told the child she had to sit in her stroller while she ate it the child wasn't very fond of the idea at first but as soon as she held the ice cream in her hands she paid no attention to anything else going on around her. Catherine handed Lizzie the ice cream and then lifted Lizzie into the stroller, the child sat holding her ice cream switching hands as Catherine tied her restraints.

Catherine sat at a bench with Lizzie sat in front of her in her stroller. The child smiled and mumbled to herself as she ate her ice cream.

As Catherine sat watching the child she reflected on the past 24 hours. In the past 24 hours she'd made the most drastic decision she'd ever made, she'd flown out to Boston, Told her daughter about her feeling for Sara, Told Sara she loved her to her delight Sara felt the same, discovered Sara had a baby and here she sat with Sara's daughter in the middle of a park about to meet Sara and go home with her for dinner. Catherine smiled as she remembered her favourite part of the last 24 hours the kiss she and Sara had shared before the phone ran, the way their bodies reacted to one another. The lust, want and most importantly love she saw behind those brown eyes.

Catherine looked down at the child to see Lizzie had dozed off eating her ice cream, the child was covered in ice cream and as she slept she snuggled the ice cream cone to her with her nose dipping into the ice cream. Catherine giggled as she got some baby wipes from the back of the pram cleaning the child up before reclining the seat so that the child could sleep comfortably as Catherine proceeded back to Harvard to meet with Sara.

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The next chapter will be longer...