A/N: Happy Sunday everybody. :) Thank you for your reviews and continued interest.

I hope you enjoy this next chapter and let me know what you think. :)

Thanks again!

Chapter 7

"I'm sorry, who did you say you were looking for?" He eyed the petite brunette standing in front of his desk.

Sam looked down at the paper in her hand, "Um, for a Gerard Moreau?" She looked up hopefully.

"I'm… I'm sorry," He stuttered, "What brought you here?"

"I'm obviously in the wrong place." Sam moved to leave.

"No… Mam, please come back." He stood up and walked around to the front of his desk, holding out his hand, "I'm Garrett Newman."

"Hi," She shakes his hand, "Sam Morgan. I'm sorry… but do you know Mr. Moreau?"

"No…" He recovers, clearing his throat, "I mean… yes. I do… I did. He's my brother."

"Oh!" Sam was pleasantly surprised, "You did? I mean… do you know where I can find him?"

"No… I'm sorry, but he's passed away." Garrett watched as the young woman's face fell.

"Oh…" Sam met his eyes, "I'm really sorry to hear that. Um… I'm sorry for your loss."

"Thank you." He clears his throat again, "How did you find me?"

"Well…" Sam laughs, slightly uncomfortable, "I have resources. I'm a private investigator."

"Oh!"He was surprised, "Did my, uh, brother do something wrong?"

"No… no, nothing like that." She smiles, "It was more of a personal investigation."

"Okay?"

"He knew my mother years ago." She explained, "When they were really young. And I guess… well, I don't know the whole story, but I guess one day he just disappeared and she never saw him again." She watched him clearly growing uncomfortable, "I'm sorry… I'm over stepping. I really should go."

"No… no, you don't have to." He stopped her again, "So, you wanted to find my brother for your mother?"

"Not really… in a way, yes…" She nodded and then drew a deep breath, "It's odd because I couldn't find very much on him… no records really to speak of, but his name was connected to yours and you, obviously, were connected to this office."

"Oh, yes, well… I handle my brother's affairs."

"Right," Sam lowers her brow, curiously, "Was it recent? I mean… when he died?"

"Gerard died a long time ago." Garrett explained hastily, "A long time ago."

"Oh. Okay." Sam nodded with understanding, "I'm, uh, I'll just be going. Thank you for your help." She smiled before leaving the office, closing the door behind her.

Garrett turned and looked at the group that was fishing at the back of his boat. His family. He thought back to that day… who would have thought that they would be here, together, enjoying the summer sun. Who would have thought that in a year's time, he would have built relationships that he could no longer live without.

And that was truth. As he enjoyed his time with Sam, Danny, and Molly… he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if things were different. If she was there with them, laughing, and teasing him about his ability to drive a boat without endangering the lives of his passengers. And she would, of course, be wearing a lifejacket…

"Papa! Yook!"

He was finally drawn from his daydream by Danny who was holding up his fishing pole with a tiny squirming fish on the end, "Wow! You got one!"

"He did." Sam laughed as Molly snapped a picture and Garrett made his way to the back of the boat to help unhook the victim.

"Fishy!" Danny smiled proudly as the fish was being removed.

Garrett held it up to Danny's sight, "Say, bye-bye to the fishy."

The little boy waves, "Buh-bye fishy." His face falls slightly as he watches it get thrown back in the water.

"That was a good job, Danny!" Sam praises her son as she baits a worm on to the end of his hook, "I knew you'd be a good fisher-boy."

"Yep!" He nodded excitedly as his mom helped him cast his pole back into the water.

"I think this is your lucky fishing pole. Good thing Papa got this for you for your birthday, huh?" Sam winked to Garrett as Danny nodded.

"Yah. Neeeemoh!" Danny pointed to the orange fish on the reel of his little pole.

"Yep." Sam chuckled, turning to Molly, "Will you watch him, Mol?"

"Of course!" Molly smiled as she scooted closer to her nephew, promptly taking a hold of the strap on his lifejacket.

Sam made her way to the front of the boat, she smiled as she approached Garrett, "Hey."

"Thirsty?" Garrett smiled, handing Sam a bottle of water.

"Yeah, thanks!"She smiles, "And thank you again for taking us out here today. Danny loves fishing."

"He's definitely a little water baby." Garrett chuckled, admiring the young fisherman who was chatting away with his aunt at the back of the boat.

"He is." She says astonishingly, "He would jump right in and fish from the water if he could. Precisely why Molly's holding the strap to his jacket there…" She gestures and they both share a laugh. "Mom gave her strict instructions to keep her eyes on Danny at all times and a tight grip on his life jacket. Oh, and she also instructed that we all had to wear lifejackets as well."

Garrett laughs, "Is that why they were all laid out by the door?"

"Yes." Sam takes a drink of her water, "She was sure to get them out of the garage before she left. She said your boat is too small."

"What?" He looked around, noting the roomy area.

"I know," Sam shrugs, "She's crazy, she can't help it."

"Stop…" Garrett smiles, "Don't call your mother crazy. She loves you. This boat is full of her babies, how would you expect her to react?"

"I know." Sam retreats.

"How is she?"

"Mom?"

"Yeah…" He nods.

"She's okay." She watches as he nods, "When was the last time you talked to her?" She understood his glance, "I figured as much."

"I think it's over, Sam… and I can't blame her. I respect her for it, actually…"

"Come on…" Sam was so tired of the defeatist attitudes.

"No, I'm serious. She has ever right to write me off."

Sam raises a brow, "I just wish she would give you a chance to explain."

"She has. And she didn't believe me. Which is her prerogative." He shook his head, "I've made a lot of mistakes. Especially the day you showed up in my office."

"Hey…" She puts her hand on his arm, "It was more complicated than that and you know it. I thought we were past that."

"Yeah, well… I don't think all of us are." He takes another drink of his water and looks out onto the lake.

"You know," Sam gets his attention, "For what it's worth… I've never seen mom as happy as she has been these past few months. She loves you." She watches as he looks away again. Now it was his turn not to believe.

"I don't know about love…" A sad smile had crossed his face when he turned back to her.

"Well, I think she does." Sam wasn't backing down, "Why else would she be pushing away as hard as she is? If she didn't love you… what would she have to lose?"

"I don't know," He shrugged, "Maybe it's not about that. Maybe she's just gotten to the point that she doesn't want to deal with this anymore."

"Deal with what?"

"Me."

"You're nothing to deal with." Sam smiles, "You're someone to cherish… to thank God for."

"Sam…" Garrett was touched. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She gave him an affirming nod, before heading to the back of the boat.

Garrett smiled as he watched Danny hold his pole steady so that his mother could place another worm on the end of the hook. Who would have thought a little fishing pole would give a kid so much joy. He glanced down at the picture tucked in his dash from the little boy's birthday party.

Standing by the open screen door, with his glass of water in his hand, he watched the Davis girls crowd around their little boy at the table as he opened his gifts. The whole room was decorated with balloons and streamers and a huge banner that said "Happy Birthday Danny!" Alexis had gone all out for her grandson's second birthday and he could see why… the little boy had her heart. He was such a sweet, charming, and intelligent child… and he brightened her world. Garrett loved watching them together, and how both of their faces lit up when either was in the room. She was so beautiful… especially in these simple moments, where she was surrounded by her family, serving cake to her guests, and happily snapping photos of her grandson as he tore the wrapping paper off of his gifts.

"Oh my goodness!" Alexis gasped playfully to Daniel before meeting Garrett's eyes with a smile.

Danny's face was as bright as the sun as he held up his new fishing pole, "Neemoh!"

One thing he had been quick to learn was Danny's obsession with "Toy Story" and "Finding Nemo". When he saw the "Finding Nemo" fishing pole and tackle box, he had hoped it would be a hit. From the looks of things he was right.

Alexis leaned in close to her grandson as he inspected the gift, "These are from Papa! Can you say thank you?"

"Tan-too!" Danny squealed causing everyone in the room to laugh.

Garrett smiled to Sam when she looked up at him happily. He walked a little closer to the table, "Now, we can all go out on my boat and try it out… see if we can catch any fishies! How does that sound?"

"Fishy!" Danny exclaimed happily.

"Yeah!" Alexis turned to Garrett with a smile in her eyes, "come here so I can get a picture of you two!"

Garrett rolled his eyes playfully as he walked over to the table and stood behind Sam and Danny's chair. Alexis got into position to snap the picture just before Molly jumped up from her seat.

"No, wait wait wait!" Molly exclaimed, ripping the camera from her mother, "Get in the picture, mom!"

"Molly…" Alexis sighed, walking over to the table as Sam stood and handed Danny, who was holding his fishing pole and tackle box, to Garrett. She looked up at him when his arm found its way over her shoulder, she couldn't help but smile.

"Okay!" Molly exclaimed, "Say cheese!"

With Sam on one side, Alexis on the other, and Danny in his arms, Garrett couldn't help but wonder what could possibly be better than that very moment? Nothing, that's what.

"Cheeeese!"