Chapter 16

Cam had gotten Zeke to look after the garage so she could pick Sara and Emily up at the airport. The brunette hadn't wanted her car to be parked at the airport, and the mechanic had gotten Zeke to pick up the CSI's car.

Samantha had been buried on Tuesday and it was now Friday. If Sara remembered correctly Saturday was Catherine's night off. That would be the perfect opportunity to explain to the older woman and Lindsey. It would also give Emily a day to get reacquainted with Sara's apartment.

Having the Willows' over for dinner would be a good way to start slowly introducing the young girl to the people the brunette worked with. And besides Catherine deserved an explanation before everybody else found out. This would also allow Sara to see Lindsey.

It would, however, only work if the strawberry-blonde CSI didn't already have other plans. The invitation would be short notice. There was also the possibility that the older woman didn't want to waste time on Sara. That was at least what the brunette feared.

Calling Catherine, the brunette got the older woman's answering machine.

"Hi Catherine, it's Sara. Uhm we made it home okay and I wanted to er… invite you and Lindsey over for dinner tomorrow. If that's okay with you."

It had been awkward talking to the machine, and the younger woman hurried to get her message over with.

Now came the hard part, she had to wait for Catherine to decide and get back to her. It always felt like forever when Sara had to wait for someone's approval. The presence of Emily was great at keeping the CSI's thoughts off the older woman.

The boxes with all of the young girl's things wouldn't be delivered until Wednesday of next week. They had brought some of the young blonde's clothes and a few books with them on the flight. So there wasn't all that much that needed to be put away.

Being out of town for almost a week didn't improve the amount of edible food in the brunette's home. Going to the store would be a good distraction for the both of them. That was a much better way to pass the time until Catherine called instead of waiting in the apartment. Besides the CSI had always enjoyed spending that time with Emily, and if they left now they could be back in time to make dinner at a reasonable hour.

They spent most of the time in the store looking at and selecting fruits and vegetables. Emily had always been fond of trying new things. And unlike many of the girl's friends the blonde loved fruit and most vegetables. Once in a while the young blonde, like most children, disliked what was served. Sara was okay with that, the one rule the brunette insisted on concerning food, was that Emily had to taste the food before deciding if she liked it or not. After Emily came back in the CSI's life the rule for tasting had been changed to a bite per year of the blonde's age. This worked rather well because sometimes the girl was adamant that she didn't like something after 3 bites and by the 5th it was her new favorite food.

They needed a lot of things now that Emily would be staying permanently with the brunette. It wasn't only food the CSI was short on. For the last two months Sara hadn't been all that good at shopping and she was running low on several household items.

By the time they were ready to pay the cart was full, which surprised Sara. That had never happened to the CSI before.

The normalcy of going grocery shopping had been good for the young blonde. It made her feel safe and normal. Two things that the brunette knew were important. Sara had never felt normal and safe until the CSI had live with Carolyn.

As they were getting ready to get into the car Sara's cell rang. Making sure the young girl was inside before answering the phone it had rung a couple of times when the brunette got to it.

"Sidle," the CSI hadn't looked at the caller ID to avoid the call going through to voicemail.

"Sara, I was beginning to think that you didn't want to talk to me." The mock hurt in the blonde's voice was easily recognized even by the insecure brunette. That didn't mean that Sara knew what to say.

"Er…" Thousands of thoughts flew through the younger woman's mind, but nothing that she could put into words.

When it didn't sound like the brunette would say anything, Catherine continued. "I called to tell you that Lindsey and I would love to come to dinner. But are you sure you want to cook for all of us? You have enough to deal with as it is."

Sara had finally found her voice by the time that the blonde finished. "It won't be a problem."

"Okay. When do you want us to be there?"

"Um… we'll be there all day so at 5-ish if that works for you." Talking to the blonde made Sara flustered and rather tongue-tied.

Right before Sara was about to hang up the brunette was stopped by the soft chuckle of the other woman. "I'll need your address if we're to get there honey."

This put a smile on the brunette's face. Giving the blonde directions to her apartment had been the end of an awkward conversation on Sara's part.

Saturday afternoon found Sara and Emily patting around the apartment in bare feet. The brunette only wore shoes and socks when she had to. And the young girl was copying the CSI.

There wasn't any need for them to do any tidying as Sara was a somewhat neat freak. Everything had its place. And Emily hadn't been there long enough to have changed that even a little.

When the door bell rang they were in the kitchen cutting up the vegetables for a stir-fry. Emily had asked for that dish specific. As they had raided the grocery store for fruit that would be cut up and served for desert.

Not as shy as Sara had been as a child, the blonde was still reluctant to leave the brunette's side for too long. The CSI barely had time to open the door before the whirl wind known as Lindsey jumped into her arms.

"Hi Sara, mom said you had to leave town, but now that you're back you wanted company."

The strawberry blonde girl's enthusiasm was overwhelming to the younger blonde and Emily stepped behind Sara.

"Hey Linds. Great to see you. Why don't you come inside before you pass out from lack of oxygen." The brunette grinned at the girl still hugging her.

Turning to look at the older woman Sara continued. "Come in and make yourself at home. Can we get you something to drink before I make the introductions?" Sara knew there would be questions when she explained who Emily was. This way she could make it more comfortable for the younger blonde.

"Can I have a soda, mom?" Getting a nod from Catherine, Lindsey said, "Orange, please."

Walking to the kitchen to get drinks, Sara threw over her shoulder. "What about you Catherine? I can always make you some coffee." This earned the brunette a smile that the younger woman didn't see as she already had her back turned.

"Whatever soda you have will be fine."

The younger blonde followed closely behind the brunette.

Lindsey had already been in the apartment before and made herself at home on the couch. Shoes left by the door, the young Willows had her feet pulled under her. Catherine on the other hand was content to look around and get a feel for the place. It wasn't anything the older CSI had imagined Sara's home to be like.

The kitchen was a part of the living room and the two Willows' could hear and see everything in there.

"Mama, can I have a soda too?" This got the attention of the two strawberry blondes. Before either of them could react though Sara answered.

"No, but you may have one for dinner. We do have buttermilk, if you want that?"

The suggestion of buttermilk as fair trade for soda shocked Catherine and the reaction from Emily left the older woman speech less.

Emily wasn't used to soda and the joy of having one for dinner was far greater than being denied one now. The young blonde didn't drink any other kind of milk, but buttermilk was the girl's favorite.

Instead of complaining about Sara's decision, as Lindsey no doubt would have done, the younger girl went to fridge and got out the water, the brunette always drank, as well as the buttermilk.

When Sara took four glasses from the cabinet the girl looked slightly embarrassed that she had forgot the two sodas for their guest.

"Oops sorry," Emily opened the fridge once more to get the two sodas.

Emily carried the drinks to the table in two rounds. As the younger blonde put the last of them down Lindsey couldn't keep it in anymore.

"Sara's you mom?" When the young Willows saw Emily's nod, Lindsey had to say it. "Wicked." Lindsey knew her mom wasn't all that happy about this new word the young strawberry blonde had started using.

This was getting more interesting by the minute, and Catherine hoped that Sara really did intent to clear up the mystery that was the brunette's private life. The older woman did know that now was not the time for all the questions she had.

Sara came in with the glasses. As they all sat down the brunette thought it as good time as any to start the introductions.

"Guys this is Emily and she'll be living with me." Turning to look at the younger blonde half hiding behind her Sara continued. "Em, this is Catherine Willows a friend of mine and her daughter Lindsey."

Gently giving the child a nudge to remind her of her manners. Normally Emily would without reminders politely have said hello. Samantha had been big on manners and Emily had always been polite. With all the changes that had happened, Sara wasn't about to pressure the blonde child for something this small. But a little nudge was all it took to remind Emily.

Catherine could see the insecurity in the younger girl's face. "Hi sweetheart. It's very nice to meet you." Softly shaking the hand of the suddenly shy girl.

As if the handshake was enough to jump start Emily's memory, the young girl remembered what her mom had taught her.

"Hello Mrs. Willows."

Catherine got a small and cautious smile. This is such an adorable little girl, but how can she be Sara's daughter?

Before the older woman had time to filter her thoughts she spoke aloud. "I didn't know you had a daughter. Why didn't you tell me Sara?"

This brought a tinge of red to the brunette's checks, though it didn't seem like Sara was about to answer. Catherine, however, got an answer from a different source.

"Mama," Emily looked sternly at Sara. "You didn't tell about me or mommy."

If it was as simple as that, I wouldn't have had to keep everything a secret.

Lindsey hadn't said anything, but was looking from the younger girl to the pictures to Sara. "You're the Emily from the pictures!" Exclaimed the young Willows as she had finally made the connection.

"Yes Lindsey. Samantha was her mother. We lived together when Em was younger, before I came to Vegas."

Catherine was starring, and it had the brunette shifting in her seat. It wasn't so much that Sara had lived with a woman that surprised the older CSI, but that the younger woman never told her about Emily. She would never have been able to not talk about Lindsey. This gave the strawberry blonde an insight in how lonely it must have been for the brunette, when everything Sara said had to be guarded.

It had taken some time for Catherine to get her thoughts under control again. Emily had quietly been drinking her milk like this was a normal occurrence. Lindsey had been following the pacing brunette with her eyes. Nobody had made a sound while the older CSI tried to get herself together. Sara had been afraid this would ruin what they had barely started and didn't know what to say.

Catherine didn't get the chance to ask the brunette anything. As the older CSI opened her mouth, Lindsey jumped in.

"Wow Sara, you have a tattoo!"

Catherine looked from the older girl to the brunette and furrowed her forehead in confusion.

"Mom, look on her foot."

That was when the older woman noticed Sara had bare feet and as Lindsey pointed out on the right there was a tattoo.

Sara smiled shyly at the two Willows' and without prompting lifted her pant leg slightly to show all of it.

The design was stars, circles and lines combined. Stretching from the right side a third of the shin up almost to her toes. Sara had gotten it in college as a part of finding herself.

The commotion over the tattoo had Emily giggling. If they where this shocked over 'one' tattoo the young blonde could just imagine what the reaction would be if the strawberry blondes saw the other tattoos her mama had.

The joyful sound of Emily giggling had Sara beaming at the young girl. "What are you giggling about, you giggle monster?"

The brunette laughed as she grabbed the young blonde and tickled her.

Sara looks so free, like I have never seen, and all because this young girl, Emily, laughed. I would love to be the one to cause such radiant beauty in her.

"You win…" Emily tried hard not to laugh. "Please mama, you win." Though Sara had stopped the tickle torture, the young blonde had a hard time stop laughing.

"Mrs. Wilows looked funny when she saw your tattoo and that was only one of them." The blonde girl couldn't keep it bottled up anymore and her laughter brought smiles to both adults' faces.

What? Sara has more than one tattoo. There is more to her than I ever thought. I hope this will only be the start of what I'm privileged enough to be shown.

"More than one. Can I see them?"

The young strawberry blonde looked at the brunette with pleading eyes.

"That's not a good idea, Linds." Sara hated to crush the hope of any child, but it was worse when it was Lindsey.

"But Emily has seen them." Lindsey was pulling out all the stops to get the brunette to show her tattoos. The older girl knew it wouldn't be long before her mom wouldn't let her get away with more.

"Yeah, but Em is my daughter, and I lived with her mom."

You could see the wheels turning in those blue eyes. "Does that mean if you live with my mom I get to see them too?"

Sara didn't know what to say and was imitating a fish out of water. Catherine could see how uncomfortable this line of questioning was to the brunette. Stifling a laugh the older woman was quick to step in before Lindsey took too many liberties.

"Lindsey!" That was more than enough to make Lindsey take a second look at Sara and the older girl was quick to apologize. Catherine hadn't even needed to raise her voice. Lindsey didn't want the younger CSI angry with her.

To lighten the mood, because it looked like Sara was stuck in her own thoughts, Catherine turned to the young blonde. "Emily would you do me the honor of showing me around?"

The younger girl looked to Sara for acceptance before turning back to the older Willows. "Yes Mrs. Willows."

"You can call me Catherine, sweetheart."

Before following Emily into the hall, Catherine whispered to the brunette, causing goose bumps along Sara spine. "You know you walked right into that one, Sidle."

Sara's eyes popped open. Catherine didn't sound anything like she usually does. In fact it sounded more like she was flirting with me.

Nothing had been spared on the tour of the apartment. Emily had shown Catherine everything. Where the washer and dryer were. The inside of the blonde's closet. The older CSI had stopped the young girl from showing the contents of Sara's closet, by distracting Emily.

Catherine knew the brunette would be horrified if the strawberry blonde looked in there. Closets were a very personal place and Catherine didn't wish to invade Sara's sense of privacy.

Dinner had gone great. The cooking skills of the brunette had surprised Catherine. The older woman had always had Sara pegged as a takeout kind of girl.

They hadn't had any meat, but an abundance of vegetables. That was not much of a surprise, as Catherine knew the younger CSI had turned to vegetarianism long ago. No the surprise had been her daughter's reaction. There had been no complaining what so ever from Lindsey about having to eat vegetables.

Sara had, had both of the girls helping with desert. Emily had been so excited about all the fruit and helping to cut the melon. It had rubbed off on the older girl. Lindsey had never been one for fruit. Especially not when used for desert without anything containing sugar. But apparently Sara and Emily had changed Lindsey's mind.

The two girls had been talking up a storm during the meal. Catherine had won the young blonde's approval during the tour of the home. It was like Emily had forgotten all the bad things, if just for the night. Much to the delight of the brunette.

Sara and the older woman hadn't had much chance to talk about Samantha or Emily during the meal. Catherine had loved the time together and didn't want the night to end. But Lindsey was getting tired and Emily could barely keep her eyes open. The young child definitely didn't want to go to bed. And Catherine could see that Emily wouldn't be easy to tuck in if Lindsey and her were still there.

Not wanting to leave but not wanting to make it hard on either Sara or Emily, Catherine was about to tell Lindsey they had to leave. The older CSI didn't feel like there was much of a choice.

The brunette could see the other woman was about to go home. Sara had loved seeing Emily smile and laugh and didn't particularly want the night to end. It had been nice; it had felt like family.

"You could stay."

Catherine looked at the brunette as she was some kind of alien.

"We haven't had much of a chance to talk so you could stay the night." Sara elaborated on her previous statement. Hoping the older woman wouldn't run at the suggestion.

"Lindsey can use the guestroom and you can have my bed."

"Oh mom, please can we stay?"

Sara was afraid Catherine would turn her down as the strawberry blonde didn't respond.

Maybe she thinks I meant we would share my bed and that I'll come on to her.

"It's no trouble. I'll sleep with Emily, or on the couch. And I just changed my bedding today so it's all clean." Sara was getting frantic and trying to talk the older woman into staying. But the brunette was only resulting in rambling. Sara didn't know the reason for Catherine's lack of answer and was convinced it could only be bad.

"Sara, honey I don't doubt your bedroom is anything but clean. But I can't take your bed."

It wasn't the clear no Sara had expected, but it wasn't a yes either. And before Sara could come up with another reason for the Willows' to stay, Emily sealed the deal.

"Yeah mama, sleep in my bed, please."

"See this way everybody's happy, Cat."

The older woman had a hard time declining the brunette's offer. With blue and green eyes looking pleadingly at her. Combine that with the hope in Sara's brown ones, Catherine didn't have any option but to stay.

Told you I would update this soon, but on that note I'll have to say that the next chapter won't be coming that soon. I have some ideas but am having trouble puting them into words. Hopefully the inspiration will come and you won't be left hanging for too long. ; )