MP-Hey everyone so sorry for this super late story. Everyone in my house seemingly got 2 different illnesses back to back. It took so much energy out of me. I'm just happy to get something out to you. Hope you all are enjoying. I am gonna try and keep on top of this.

Brown Hair, Blue Eyes

By: MandasPandas1011

Chapter 16

Sara's eyes never left her family sleeping peacefully on the couch as she slipped off her shoes and removed her coat. The two fit together like a puzzle. She tiptoed into the living room, gently placing her keys on the bar as she passed. Slowly lowered herself into the chair next to the couch, sitting forward arms resting on her thighs. Eliza was making tiny snores harmonizing with Gil's slightly louder ones. Sounds that had soothed her to sleep in different ways. Gil's snores always lulled her into a secure sleep after having one of her nightmares. Eliza's had been a reassuring indication she was still breathing. Something she had always worried about when she was a baby after reading too many horror stories. Sara just took the sight in. She remembered all the times Gil and she had passed out on a couch together. Coming home after a long shift swearing they could both handle a show or movie. Then one or both finally give in to sleep. She recalled waking up to him petting her hair and looking down at her. She leaned forward and caressed his cheek, the scruff of his beard gently tickling her thumb. A flutter in her heart rose up, causing a blush to heat her cheeks. He always had a hold on her. Even when she was incredibly mad at him. Never could pinpoint what it was about him. After all these years the only explanation she could ever come up with was that he completed her. This handsome man was just her soulmate and that was that. She sighed and got up to retrieve her laptop bag. Returning to her previous spot, she opened it up and placed her laptop on the table. It happily chimed as it booted up, followed by an angry tone of low power.

"Shoot!" she grumbled, rummaging through her bag for the cord.

She laughed in victory when she finally pulled it out. The victory was short lived, however, as she had to get to the outlet between the couch and chair. She reached as far as she could, the outlet is not visible past her large potted monstera plant. Her stomach ached as it draped over the chair arm and supported her top half. Her body was suspended uneasily as she felt the wall with her hand and came across the outlet. Her finger ran across the holes trying to memorise their position.

"Come on you bastard," she groaned, stabbing the plug towards the wall.

Her first few attempts failed before it finally worked and the laptop sang cheerfully. Sara sighed in relief and righted herself on the chair. She had just begun putting in her password when she heard a chuckle beside her. She looked over to see Gil's eyes were open.

"You could have moved the chair," he reminded, raising an eyebrow at her amusingly.

She responded to him with a shrug and a sly smile before turning to her laptop. She didn't know how long he had been awake. He shifted slightly before remembering the added weight to his body. He looked over, Eliza was still asleep. Her little face was so peaceful. He reached up and petted her hair. He paused as she stirred, but settled once again. He was brought back several years to Sara and his post-work couch naps. He smiled at the memory and held their daughter a bit tighter. She was still radiating a warmth. It was making him sleepy once again, his eyes were heavily falling closed again. Sara chuckled and he looked up at her.

"She'll do that to you," she smiled, typing away at her laptop. "She's like a little space heater, always has been. I can't tell you how I got anything done when she was a baby. She just wanted to cuddle all the time, but cuddling with her made me tired."

"So that's it," he chuckled. "I wondered why all of a sudden I was so tired."

His chest movements roused the young girl from her slumber. Her eyes fluttered open and she stretched out. She resembled a cat stirring from a rest. She rubbed her eyes and looked over at him, eyes barely open.

'Morning, Daddy," she yawned, barely audible.

"Good morning," he smiled, petting her hair again.

She slid down his side and sat on the edge of the couch next to him. She continued to stretch out her arms and legs. Sara watched her daughter, she did this every time she woke up. It was thoroughly amusing to watch her, sometimes she stretched for 10 minutes before finally moving on with the day. Gil smirked at the display, it reminded him of his mother. Growing up, the day did not begin till his mother had her thorough stretch. Eliza began rotating her ankles. Sara laughed at the sight and Eliza turned to look at the source of the laugh. Her face lit up when she saw who it was.

"Mommy," she squealed and lunged at her. "I missed you."

"Hey, sweetie," Sara laughed, wrapping her arms tightly around her. " I missed you too. Did you have fun with Daddy?"

"So fun," she replied, pulling away from her mom. " We watched TV and he helped me with my sign book and he said we could go meet grandma."

"Oh," Sara said, raising an eyebrow at her. "Is that so?"

Sara looked over to Gil, eyebrow still raised, with surprise. He was already sitting up and gave her a small smile and a shrug. The subject of Gil's mother was always a sore spot for her. She had never actually met the woman. Despite being with her son for quite a few years and for a few engaged to him. There were two or three times they were supposed to meet. However, every time something got in the way. She knew how she could be, however. Gil was her baby and she would do anything for him. She couldn't even imagine what Mrs. Grissom thought of her now after all that happened. How would she react to finding out a whole child was kept a secret? Sara shuddered at the thought, which received a sympathy pat on her leg from Gil.

"I said she would love to meet her," he consoled, trying to ease her worries.

Sara gave him a small smile, but her eyes gave her away. He knew how she felt about his mother. It wasn't despise or malice from either party. They were both just headstrong women with opinions that had to be shared. A clashing of similar personalities. After all that has happened though, he could understand her hesitance. He didn't even know how to bring any of this up to his mother. Sara squeezed his hand and turned back to her emails. He turned his attention back to Eliza, who was gone in a flash down the hall. He stood and began following her.

"I'm going to start dinner in 20 mins," Sara called to him. "I will call you two when it is ready."

"Sounds good, Darling." he smiled, then disappeared down the hall.

Sara's heart skipped a beat as it normally did when he called her that. He had once said to her that it was always what his father called his mother. He knew when he was a child that he would call his wife that. It was not long after he told her that he began using that term for her. She drew her thoughts back to her emails. The newest one is from Margo. She took a deep breath before opening it. It contained a debrief on the story and research. Also what the job would entail. At the end of the email was the link for the plane tickets. Three tickets flying out of SFO and landing LAS, leaving in two days. She sighed, she loved her job, but when they needed her to go somewhere she had to go. She was blessed with such a great support system that could take Eliza at a moments notice. She could take her sometimes, but it was good to know her daughter was in capable hands when she couldn't. Her stomach started to ache as she scrolled over the tickets on the screen. Her nerves about the whole thing were going into overdrive. She closed her laptop and stood and stretched. The clock let her know it was time to start dinner. She walked over into the kitchen.

"More tea Daddy," Eliza asked, holding up the tiny ladybug teapot. "It's mint."

"Oh, yes please," Gil replied, holding his cup up to her. "I'd also love one of those delicious cookies, please."

"Of course," Eliza smiled, pouring her pretend tea into his cup. "One moment for the cookie"

She crossed the room to her play kitchen and got to work. Gil was sitting on the floor at a small pink table in front of Boo and a small dog plush named Coco. Eliza continued to rummage around in her play kitchen. Pots were clanging and plastic food was being thrown out of the wooden fridge. He placed his cup down on the table in front of him.

"One minute," Eliza called over. "Talk to each other."

Gil looked over to his table companions. Boo's long colourful body was scrunched up to fit on the small pink chair. Coco was balanced on three books so you could see her small head over the table edge. He laughed at the scene. He knew it brought joy to his daughter to play like this. So, even though, his back and legs were aching from sitting on the floor, he was more than happy to.

"So, Mr. Boo," he began, turning to the caterpillar. "Read any good books lately?"

He paused for a moment to allow Boo to answer. He could hear Eliza giggle from her kitchen

"Ah, Goodnight Moon," he continued, picking up his tea. " That is a good one. I am partial to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince myself. Beautiful imagery."

Eliza returned to the table with a small plate with lots of plastic cookies and even an ear of corn. Gil laughed out loud and grabbed the corn off the plate.

"Why is their corn," he asked, looking at his daughter amused.

"It's Coco's favourite," she replied, taking the corn from his hand. "And puppies can't have chocolate."

"That is true," he chuckled. "My apologies Ms. Coco. Enjoy your corn."

Eliza rounded the table and placed the corn on Coco's plate. Gil took two cookies and placed one on Boos's plate. Eliza finally took her seat across from him and raised her cup in a cheers motion. Gil followed suit and tapped her glass with his.

"Clink," she giggled, then sipped her tea.

Gil put the cookie close to his mouth and began pretending to eat it. He widened his eyes and exaggerated his chews. Eliza was watching him intently. He dropped the cookie into his lap making it disappear and he drank his tea. He sighed loudly and looked over to his daughter. She placed the cup down.

"That was the best cookie I've ever had," he said, putting a hand on his stomach for emphasis. "I will have to have another."

"No Daddy," Eliza scolded him. "You will ruin your dinner."

He burst out laughing. Hearing this coming from a child raised by a woman he's seen consume nothing but a donut and several cups of coffee for 17 hours. He remembered having to subtly try to leave for her during her shift so she would eat.

"That's right, sweetie," Sara said. "Dinner's ready."

"Okay, Mommy," Eliza replied.

She stood, ran out, and down the hall. Sara watched her go then turned to Gil. He was still sitting on the floor legs spread out. She chuckled at him as he proceeded to try and get up. She approached him and helped him. He got to his feet with some difficulty and rubbed his legs.

"It's brutal on the knees," Sara said, her tone sympathetic.

"Yeah," he replied, straightening up. "But it is fun."

Sara smiled at him and went to turn but he stopped her by grabbing her hand. She looked at him and he pulled her to him. His arms twisted around her waist. She raised a quizzical eyebrow at him, but her sly smile gave her true feelings away.

"How was your meeting, darling," he asked.

"It was fine," she replied, giving a small small.

He knew that something was bothering her. Call it intuition or the years of intimate closeness or their countless years working together. He could tell there was something, but he also knew she would not just blurt it out. He pulled her closer and brushed his lips against her cheek. Her arms snaked wrapped around his neck. Her eyes were laser-focused on his lips. He began to close the gap.

"I'm hungry," Eliza's voice called from down the hall.

The two paused and then both let out a loud laugh. They exited and joined their daughter.