AN: So all of my stories mean something different to me. This one was the challenge and the one in some ways I am happiest with because of that challenge. Adam has been talking in my head a lot lately about this scene. I have no idea why since I had considered this story finished, but here it is. Hope you guys enjoy this treat. Adam's voice in my head insisted.

"Dad."

There are few words ever spoken that immediately melt my heart. Hearing Belle call me that still to this day makes my heart sing. Doesn't matter that she is now seventeen and I have to come to grips with reality and realize that she is not going to be living in this house for much longer. She'll be sending out college applications this fall and it scares the daylights out of me that she could end up half way across the country. Doubtful, but it could happen.

She is walking out of the back screen door as she was calling for me. I'm in the process of grilling chicken for dinner as she takes a seat on the wooden picnic table we have on the back deck. Spring in Chicago has been nice to us this year and I'm only wearing the lightest of jackets. My daughter on the other hand has on Uggs, a puffer vest and jeans. She got her mother's warm weather genes.

"'What's up?"

"Ummm...Natalie wanted to know if I could go with her to the mall after dinner. Is that okay?"

Hmmmm...this is not what she really wants. First off, Natalie is her best friend and they always go to the mall or shopping or bowling or whatever on Saturday nights after dinner. Why would this one be any different? Second, my beautiful daughter was absentmindedly braiding her hair, so she did not have to look at me. Bigger tell.

"Who are you meeting up with?"

"What?!"

"Belle, I'm your father. I'm not stupid. You never ask to go anywhere with Natalie. Who else is going that you want permission to see?"

Belle dropped her hair and bit her lip. Oh this is bad.

"Christian."

It was taking every ounce of muscle control I had to not smile. Christian was Natalie's cousin and Belle had the biggest crush on him. He was a good kid. Casey and Dawson's son. How could I be upset about her seeing him? Well, except that I was Dad and had to play the heavy.

"Are you guys just going to the mall?"

"Yes."

"You'll call if plans change?"

The groan out of my daughter was a laugh riot.

"Of course, Dad!"

"Alright. Anything else?"

I was flipping over some of the chicken and waiting for Belle's response. When I didn't get one, I looked up. Her eyes were serious and I could see that there was for sure something else. I watched as she took the biggest breath I had ever seen her take before she opened her mouth.

"Are we going to Savannah this summer?"

"Of course. We go every year."

"I don't want to."

Ok, that hit me right in the gut.

"What? Why?"

"I don't want to."

"Belle, that is not a reason. Your grandfather hosts that every year and looks forward to it. You are going."

Oh, hell. Here it comes. Belle's lips have fallen into a straight line and her eyes have gone hard. She was pissed and I knew the teenage venom was getting ready to come.

"I'm seventeen, Dad! I have a right to make some decisions about what I want to do with MY summer."

"True. Some. When it comes to family vacations? Specifically this one. You have no say. You will go. You will spend time with your grandfather and Uncle Steve."

I saw Belle's eyes dart away. Yep she hadn't thought this completely through. She loved Uncle Steve.

"You will go. That is final. Go help your brother and sister with the table. This is almost done."

Belle got off the table and I could see that she was still pissed. The girl was going to be lucky if I didn't take back my permission for her to go out tonight. As Belle was making her way inside the house, Kim was coming out. I saw the concerned look on her face as she made eye contact with Belle. I could tell that Belle had in her unspoken language with Kim told her Mom to leave it alone. Kim came up to me and handed me an empty plate to place all the chicken on. When the door to the house closed was when Kim spoke.

"What happened?"

"She says that she doesn't want to go to Savannah this summer."

Kim was wrapping her sweater around herself to help brace from the light breeze that was just picking up.

"And you told her that she had to. Did she say why she doesn't want to go?"

"Nope."

Kim's hand began to rub my back as I was turning the dials off on the grill.

"I'm sure she has a reason. She loves her grandfather."

"Well, it seems that is who she does not want to see."

"Are you sure it is really that?"

I was now taking a much needed deep breath. I looked down into Kim's concerned eyes and thanked every star in the heavens that I have her in my life. She is my rock and the one person that I know will always have my back.

"I don't know. I really don't this time."

Belle had gone through phases of questioning her relationship with her grandfather. I knew growing up it at times had been confusing for her. She had a grandfather that was not shared by her other siblings. Hard to understand, but I had thought that she was at an age by now that we were past it. Besides, Robert had always treated AJ, Ally, and Becca as if they were family. He always requested school pictures of them as well as Belle. Family is not only blood and I loved the fact that my kids were not only learning that from their extended cop family but from a man that in no way shape or form had to show that kind of love and devotion. Kim wrapped her arm around my waist and nudged me in the direction of the house. We walked in together and watched our kids setting the table. Belle was helping Becca into her booster seat. The surprise. A beautiful animated surprise. Belle began to braid Becca's blonde hair so she wouldn't get it messed up with dinner. At three years old, this had become a problem since Becca was far from the cleanest of eaters. She was also petite which was why she still needed the booster, but man the girl could make a mess. How that was possible? I have no idea. The laws of physics did not apply to my youngest daughter. Ally was just placing Becca's cup of water in front of her plate and she looked like she wasn't sure how this was going to go. It was a cup with a lid. Were weren't that adventurous, but Ally still did not look like she trusted it. At twelve, Ally was still in that awkward stage. She was changing every day and her brown hair and eyes made me think this was exactly what Kim must have looked like at her age. Kim moved past me to pat Ally on the shoulder. Ally had been the target of Becca's food several times. AJ came to me to take the plate in my hands. When in the hell did he get this tall? He was going to be taller than me. I could tell just looking at him at fifteen. His doctors had basically confirmed it last summer when he broke his leg playing baseball and they said that his growth plate was not even close to being done. 6'5" was their bet. That meant we would be continuing the buying of new clothes on the regular. Don't talk about the shoes. Not going there. I went to sit down at my usual seat at the same time that Belle did. She looked to me and I could still see that she was upset, but she forced a small smile. She would get over it. That was her sign to me. I hoped that was true.

It was Sunday evening when I finally got a clue as to what was going on with my daughter. Well, I shouldn't say it was me since I was not the one having the conversation. Listening in on Kim and my daughter talking is not something I have a habit of doing. Never know what might come up and I really do not want to hear Belle or any of my daughters talking about boys. However, this night was different for some reason. I was heading down the hallway to grab my boots for work since I was going to be meeting Kevin to relieve Jay and Erin from a stake out when I heard it.

"Mom."

This would be the other word that Belle speaks that just melts my heart and breaks it in two all at the same time. I thought that would change over the years. It didn't. I can hear that Kim is already in Belle's room so I assume that Belle was just trying to get her attention.

"Why do we have to go to Savannah every year?"

Here we go.

"It's tradition. Plus, It's a time for you to get to see your grandfather. Your Dad told me that you don't want to go. Why is that?"

I'm frozen in place. I literally can't move. I know I should probably give them their privacy, but I can't. I know that Belle will tell Kim. They have had the closest of relationships and even the teenage years had not derailed this.

"I just don't. I mean the beach is great and all. I..."

"Has your grandfather done something?"

"No! Nothing like that. I just...It just makes me remember that I'm supposed to be missing something that I don't really miss. I feel like I make him sad at times and then I feel bad even though I don't know what I did. I hate feeling like I'm different from AJ, Ally, and Becca. They're my family. You're my Mom. I don't have some other mother. I hate being reminded all the time that I do."

Broken. My heart is broken in a million little pieces and I have to cover my mouth to not make a sound. I can hear movement and I know that Kim is wrapping Belle up in her arms.

"Honey, do feel like you are betraying me by being close with your grandfather?"

There was no reply so I have no idea how Belle has responded to Kim.

"Well, you're not. I love you. I hope that you don't feel that I have loved you any differently than I have your siblings. Have I?"

"No."

That choked out answer told me that Belle was crying.

"Good. I love you, but you do have another mother. Belle, what do you know about her?"

"That she died having me and she was who Dad was with between when he was with you."

I could hear silence for a bit and I know Kim was waiting for the same thing I was. I was waiting for what else she knew. We had always made it a point to talk about Rachel and I knew Steve always told stories on our trips. It had just never occurred to me that Belle might not have been really listening.

"That's it?"

"I know you guys have talked about her. I just...that's all I remember."

"Do you want to know about her?"

"Not really."

"Why?"

I could hear Belle take a deep breath.

"Because I have you and I don't really see why having that information would make me feel anything but sad or indifferent. How does it really affect me at this point? She's not here. She's dead."

Ugh. I need to walk away. I need to not have my insides gutted before going out into the field.

"Maybe because knowing about her will make understanding who you are easier. Did you know she was an orthopedic surgeon?"

"What?!"

"Yeah. She worked at Chicago Med which is where your father met her. He was being an asshole as I recall."

"Dad?"

"Yep. You don't see him at work. He can be a real jerk."

Wait a minute. How in the world had this conversation turned to this.

"Why in the world did she end up going out with him then?"

Kim was now laughing.

"I imagine that she saw what I did. He has the biggest heart imaginable and is so full of life that you can't help but want to be around him. I knew her, you know?"

"You did?"

"Yep. We were friends. Kind of."

"Really?"

"She made your father happy, so yes. I could never dislike someone that could do that. She was an amazing person. I see so much of her in you. You look just like her which I think is why your grandfather gets sad sometimes. He sees her in you. When you talk about going into medicine... he hears her. It actually makes him happy, too. He just misses her. But you let him know that she isn't really gone."

"She was a surgeon?"

"Yes."

"Did she like country music?"

Ugh...something else Belle had inherited from her mother.

"Yes. A lot."

"Was she good at sports?"

"I don't know. I bet your grandfather and Steve would know."

She could run. I could tell you that. The sport thing...I didn't even know the answer to that one. I began to finish heading to the bed room and left the two of them to talk. I was just finishing tying my last boot when Kim came in the room.

"How much did you hear?"

I pushed my pant leg back in place and stood up before answering her.

"Most of it."

Kim crossed her arms and sighed. She looked as emotionally wrung out as I felt.

"She wants to go now. She has questions."

"Ok. You okay?"

Kim was nodding her head. I made my way up to her and wrapped her up in my arms.

"She liked you, too."

"What?"

"Rachel. She liked you. If it wasn't for me. You would have been close friends. She talked about that. It is one of the reasons that I know she would be relieved to know that you have been Belle's Mom. As she put it. Gotta love a strong female."

I could feel Kim chuckle against my chest.

"You do have good taste in women, Babe."

I rolled my eyes. My cue to get going before Atwater started to wonder where I was.

"I gotta go. I love you."

"I love you, too. Be safe. Watch out for each other."

I smiled, "We always do."

Time to go back to making Chicago a better place.