MP-Hello all. I'm happy to see all the reviews loving the last chapter. I know it was different than the others. Just know, I know very descriptive sexual content is not everyone's cup of tea. I will give a warning before chapters like that. I will be releasing two chapters today as I wrote chapter 8 first so it is ready as well. Hope you all enjoy it.

Brown Hair, Blue Eyes

By: MandasPandas1011

Chapter 7

When he entered his daughter's room she was already tucked up to her chin in the purple blankets. A Book was under one arm stretched out in front of her. The other arm clutched onto Boo, her caterpillar stuffed animal. He chuckled at the sight of his daughter. So much like her mother. She would also climb into bed this way and pull the covers up to her chin. Watching as he finished up what he was doing. Occasionally letting out a few overly exaggerated sighs to make him aware of her waiting on him. He sometimes would not even finish what he was doing. The invitation to climb into bed and hold her until sleep finally took them was too good to pass up. He was roused from thought by a small sigh from his daughter's bed. Oh so much like her mother, he thought, smiling to himself. He approached the bed, eyeing a small pink bean bag next to it. Cautiously lowered onto it, his old bones crying out in protest, and settled himself. He looked into the bed. The canopy was tied back allowing him to see his daughter eagerly waiting with a larger smile.

"Hello, my sweet," he greeted, her smile growing wider.

"Hello, Daddy." she giggled.

"What are we reading tonight?" he asked, putting his hands out.

She handed him the small book from under her arm. He gladly accepted it and turned it the right way around.

"Ah," he smiled."The Happy Little Butterfly."

She nodded, settling down into her bed, and pulled the covers tighter up. He laughed and took that as his invitation the begin.

"Ok," he cleared his throat.

"The Happy Little Butterfly by Molly Right.

Bella was a happy little butterfly,

I'm gonna tell you exactly why.

Her antennae were long and curled,

Letting her hear the world.

Her legs are many,

but her friend snail, doesn't have any.

They play together every day,

though are different in every way.

Bella has bright beautiful wings,

with dots, lines, and many things.

Rainbow and Flappy,

Bella is very Happy.

The End."

He glanced over to her and her eyes were heavy. He placed the book down beside him before rising a bit. He tucked her in gently as she let out a quiet sigh. He looked down at his daughter and couldn't help the warm feeling welling up inside him. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Goodnight, Eliza," He whispered.

"Goodnight Daddy," she replied. "I love you."

She turned away from him settling down on her side. Letting him chuckle a little at yet another thing that was so much like her mother.

"I love you too." He whispered back.

He found himself sitting for a few minutes watching her drift off to sleep. The warm feeling had taken over fully. He was home. This was where he needed to be. Not just for Eliza and Sara, but for himself. Sara's words rang through his ears from earlier. It's always been you. Just you. His heart swelled at her words and he had to fight happy tears from spilling. How he had longed for her to say anything like that to him again. He had convinced himself after their last meeting that he would never again. Not after betraying her trust the way he did. Not after she had given back her ring. The symbol of his commitment to her. His hand rose to the pocket of his shirt. He thumbed the small lump inside. He desperately wanted to present it to her again. A bitter feeling inside warned him it was too soon or of a possible rejection. Even if a rejection occurred. She was the true love of his life and she had blessed him with all he could hope for. He smiled at the small sleeping child in her bed.

A shuffle outside the door pulled his thoughts to what was to come in a short time. He knew this would be an emotional evening. Despite his want to just pull Sara to him, let the world melt away, and get lost with her like so many nights of the past. So many questions need answers. He pulled himself off the floor with much difficulty and his muscles reprimanded him for how long he had spent there. He picked up the book and walked over to the bookcase near the door. As he put it back, he noticed a bin sitting on the shelf beside the books. Curious he pulled it out and what he saw put a smile on his face. It was full of magazine pages. They had been ripped out and all had one thing in common. They had his name on them. They were all articles he had contributed to over, from the amount in there, many years. Rifling through them he noticed some smaller pages. He removed the articles placing them carefully on top of the bookcase. He then saw what the small papers were. Lecture programs. He was greeted with a photo of his face, albeit a much younger version. He smiled. The top one had been from THE Forensic Academy Lecture. He could picture it now. A beautiful young woman, with long, dark, brown hair pulled into a ponytail. Her dark brown eyes watched him attentively. Her mouth expresses much knowledge, yet an eagerness to learn more. He continued to flip through the programs. Some of which he had brought back to her over the years. Then he found one that made him freeze. It was from a certain lecture. One that had occurred 2 months after their last meeting in Fresno, California. How could she have gotten this? There was also another under that. This shocked him even more. It was one from just last year. He had returned to the same University. Had she been there? He grabbed those two, replaced the articles, and returned to the bin. He needed answers.

Once he returned to the living room, he looked around for her. She was sitting on the couch, a mug in her hand and one sitting on the table waiting for him. He approached and gladly sat next to her. She eyed the papers in his hands and gave him an understanding nod. She placed her mug down and turned her body to face him.

"Sara," he sighed, pausing unsure how to proceed.

"You have 19 questions left," she replied, eliciting a small smile from him.

"Okay," he started, holding out the programs to her. "Question 2, how did you get these?"

She reached up and grabbed the papers from him. Took a deep breath.

"Alright," she began, holding up the older one. "Well, this one. I had heard you were speaking at CSU and I decided to come and see you. I had only found out about Eliza 3 weeks earlier. I just was compelled to you, so I drove down to Fresno."

"You drove to Fresno?" He asked, shocked. "You drove 3 hrs to come see me at 9 weeks pregnant."

"I felt I needed to," She replied. "It was long and I got sick a few times, but I thought it'd be worth it. When I got there I sat in the back. When you came out. I just felt my heart wanting to leap out of my chest. You looked so handsome up there. So many emotions came flooding back to me. I was mesmerized by you and clung to every word.'

He smiled at her description. He thought back to that day and tried to remember maybe seeing her, but the memory was hazy.

"I thought about answering a question of two," she smiled, her eyes watering the memory. "You know, be your star pupil again. My nerves got the better of me. By the end, I had every intention of approaching you. I wanted nothing more than to see you and tell you everything. But. I saw them, some young ladies talking with you. Smiling and eagerly asking you questions. I thought back to myself doing the same thing. I just felt this rage and jealousy build up inside of me. I don't know if it was the extra hormones, my temper, or both. But I turned away and left."

"I," he said, staring off into his memories. "I saw you. At the time I wasn't sure, thought it could've been my brain was playing tricks on me. I followed you out, but by the time I had gotten there, you were already gone."

"Oh god," she cried, tears streaking down her cheeks. "My heart wanted to stop my feet and turn them around. My stubborn head just took over and I just drove away. I had to pull over halfway home I started crying so much. I immediately regretted it. Just like that night. But instead of heading back. I just kept driving."

He looked at her with a quizzical look. What night? That night. She looked at him and wiped her cheeks with her sleeve.

"I uh," she continued. "After I fled the hotel that night. I couldn't think straight, I felt lost. I wandered around aimlessly for an hour and a half. But, I wound up right back in front of that hotel door. I wanted to be held by you. But my stubbornness took over. I just sat in front of the door for a while. Then I just left. I couldn't face you after all that happened, that I had said."

He winced at the memory of that night and the words he had prompted from her. So you thought if you fucked me enough I'd give in?

"I also sat outside your door," he admitted, causing her to look at him. " I, uh, tried to sleep it off. But came to my senses and woke after only a half hour of uneasy sleep. I prayed that maybe you hadn't gone too far. I was too late. I went to your apartment and I thought of using the spare key, but I just sat there. I felt like a damn fool. I had just lost the best part of me for being selfish."

He put his head into his hands. She shifted on the couch til she was hugging his side, her head lying across his back. He shifted to fully hug her properly. Wrapping her tightly up against him. One hand entangled itself in her hair cradling her head. He breathed her in, allowing her scent to swallow him up. He wiped a few tears from his eyes on her shoulder. His touch burned her skin in the familiar wanting feeling he had over her. She was also brought back to that night. The bitter spiteful words she had said to him.

"Gil, " she whispered, her breath brushing against his neck. "I am so sorry for that night. I said so many hurtful things. I regret.."

He pulled away and cupped her tear-streaked cheeks. He looked into her eyes.

"Sara," he whispered, his voice breaking. "My Darling Sara."

She smiled at his name for her. Her hands mirrored his, gently cupping his face.

"I was a fool," he continued." I am a fool. I was pressuring you in more than one way. And for that, you were justified in all the anger you felt. I am the one who should be sorry. I am sorry. I am so deeply sorry for everything. I had as much opportunity to reach out to you as you did me. I just was heartbroken. I am so sorry. My Darling Sara, please forgive me."

She pulled his face to hers and their lips crashed together. He once again wrapped her into his arms and pulled her closer to him. She tried to convey as much forgiveness in this kiss. His tongue begged for entrance. She obliged as he pulled her closer till she was sitting on him. Their tongues explored the familiar territory. She felt herself being engulfed by this feeling and welcomed it. She for the first time in so long felt safe. They finally pulled apart both panting in need of air. She rested her forehead on his and let her hair fall around his face. He let out a breathy laugh.

"Sara," he said. "I don't want to pressure you in any way. I have a hotel room nearby. I can.."

She cut him off with another kiss. Deep but short in comparison. She pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"Stay with me, Please."