A/N 1 - I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE ASKING ME IF THEY CAN DO ARTWORK FOR ME. WHAT PART OF 'I AM NOT INTERESTED' DO YOU NOT GET? ALSO, I KNOW IT'S A SCAM, SO KNOCK IT OFF!
A/N 2 - I know I said this story was going to be 5 chapters - I lied. It's gonna be more like 6-8. There's so much that I wanna cover before I write the last chapter.
CHAPTER FIVE
(chapter title - As If We Never Said Goodbye)
A year later
Barney and Sara unpacked their things in the dorm room at community college while Annabel slept.
Sara and Barney had gotten a two bedroom, two bathroom dorm. It also had a kitchen, living room/dining room and a small backyard.
The three of them would be staying in the dorm all four years of community college. To help pay bills, all students were recommended to get either a part time or full time job.
Both Sara and Barney got part time jobs working at the library.
There was also a daycare on campus, so the days that Sara had class - Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays - she would take Annabel to daycare. The days that Barney had class - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays - he would take Annabel to daycare.
Sara's classes were in person, while Barney had both classes online and in person.
After Annabel was in bed, Barney and Sara went to their bedroom, closing the door behind them.
"Do we want another child?" Barney asked.
Sara nodded, "we promised my dad we would get married and have kids after college."
Barney nodded and kissed Sara's cheek, "speaking of parents, mom invited us for Thanksgiving."
Sara smiled a bit, "sounds like fun."
Barney watched his girlfriend get ready for bed, "you okay?"
Sara nodded, "I got a call from my dad - he wants to see me alone."
"Do you want to go?" Barney asked, "and when?"
"Tomorrow before classes start and I don't know - I'm still mad about what he said when I was two months pregnant with Annabel" Sara said, getting her pajamas on.
Barney propped himself on his elbows, "maybe he wants to make amends?"
Sara shrugged as she put on her pajama shirt, feeling Barney watching her. As soon as she put on her pajama pants, she climbed into bed next to Barney, "you okay taking Annabel to daycare while I go see what dad wants?"
"Of course" Barney said, kissing her forehead, "love you."
"Love you, too" Sara said, taking off her glasses and turned off the bedside lamp. She got comfortable and fell asleep.
Barney wrapped his arms around Sara's torso, bringing her close.
The next morning, Sara woke up and got dressed, looking at her phone - she got a text from her dad.
Can we meet at Gus' Diner at 9:00? It's not far from campus - you could walk there and I'll give you a ride back to campus Max texted.
It'll have to be a quick meeting - my first class is at 10:45 Sara replied, looking at her cell phone clock - it was 7 AM.
Barney opened an eye, "you okay?"
"Yeah. Just getting ready to meet my dad. We're going to Gus' Diner at 9, then he'll give me a ride back to campus afterwards" Sara said.
"If you give me 45 minutes, I can get both Annabel and I dressed and I'll give you a ride to the diner" Barney said, getting out of bed, only in a pair of boxer shorts.
While Barney got Annabel and himself dressed, Sara went to her mostly unpacked bookshelf and looked through the books.
Sara collected all sorts of books, but her favorites were children's. She spotted what she was looking for - Hans Christian Anderson stories. She flipped to a random page and began reading.
Barney exited the closet and saw Sara curled on her chair, reading, "what are you doing, honey?"
"Reading" Sara said.
There was a knock on their bedroom door and year-old Annabel burst into the room.
Annabel was the perfect combination of Sara and Barney - she had Sara's hair, fair skin, nose and chin while she had Barney's eyes and cheekbones.
"Hi sweetie" Sara greeted her little girl.
"I need to go potty" Annabel said, bouncing from foot to foot.
"I got her" Barney said, guiding Annabel to her own bathroom.
Sara set the book down and looked at her cell phone clock - it was 8:30, "Barn, I'm gonna get an Uber to the diner."
"You sure?" Barney asked from the second bathroom.
"Yeah. I'll see you guys later. Love you both" Sara said, getting the Uber app on her phone.
"Love you!" Annabel and Barney chorused as Sara left the dorm.
At 8:50, Sara and her Uber driver - Henri - arrived at Gus' Diner.
"Thank you" Sara thanked her driver as she got out of his car.
"You're welcome" Henri said before he drove off.
Sara stepped inside the 60's themed diner and went to the hostess stand, looking for her dad.
"Looking for someone, sweetie?" The hostess asked.
"Just my dad - he's about yea high, African-American guy, answers to the name of Max" Sara said.
"I haven't seen him, but I can seat you and keep an eye out for him. Would you like a booth or a table?" The hostess asked.
"Booth, please" Sara said, following the hostess to a booth towards the back of the restaurant and sat so she could see Max.
"Kelly will be your waitress" the hostess said, handing Sara a menu and left the other one on the table.
"Thank you" Sara said, flipping through her menu as her stomach gurgled loudly.
A few minutes later, Max came into the diner and found Sara.
"I'm so sorry I'm late" Max said, slipping into the spot across from Sara and picked up his menu, "did you order already?"
Sara shook her head as she looked through the menu.
A redheaded waitress came over, "hey - I'm Kelly and I'll be your waitress. What can I get you?"
"I know what I want, so I'm gonna go ahead and order" Sara said, "I'll have the chocolate chip pancakes and a chocolate milkshake. Could I get the fruit salad as a side and for an appetizer, could I get mozzarella sticks, please?"
"Of course" Kelly said, looking at Max, "do you need me to come back?"
"I'm gonna have a cup of black coffee and the Eggs Benedict" Max said.
Kelly nodded, "I'll also get you two some water."
"Thank you" Sara told the waitress, watching her walk off before turning her attention to Max, "you know I have class starting at 10:45. What the hell were you doing?"
"I got distracted - I'm sorry" Max said.
"You usually don't get distracted" Sara said in a low voice as Kelly put two glasses of ice water on the table. She turned to the waitress, "thank you."
"No problem" Kelly said, walking away.
Twenty minutes later, their food arrived.
Sara spread butter over her pancakes, "so, why were you distracted this morning?"
"I was taking my medication and it makes me sleepy. I only meant to take a five minute nap and it turned into a fifteen minute one" Max said, starting to eat his food.
Sara ate the last mozzarella stick before talking, "you could've set your alarm on your phone" she reached into her purse and discreetly took her birth control pill, popping it in her mouth and swallowed it with her chocolate milkshake, "I'm on birth control for a while."
"Any reason why?" Max asked.
"Because Barney and I don't want another kid right now - we have our hands full with Annabel, who's a year old now and is in daycare" Sara said.
"Can I see her someday?" Max inquired.
Sara shook her head, "I don't think that's a good idea. You're not around much and it takes her a while to get to know someone."
"I might not have much time left" Max said, "there's a reason why I'm on the medication I'm taking."
Sara raised an eyebrow as Kelly refilled Max's coffee cup and her water glass, "could I get another chocolate milkshake when you get a chance, please?"
"Of course" Kelly said, taking the empty glass and came back a few minutes later with a cold glass of chocolate milkshake, "here you go."
"Thank you" Sara said, watching Kelly walk off before turning to her dad, "what's going on with you?"
"I have leukemia, but it's aggressive" Max said, "I've also been seeing a therapist and she told me to make amends with you before I pass on" Max said.
Sara felt her stomach drop, "what? How long do you have?"
"A little less than a year, maybe two with the treatment" Max said.
Sara felt tears in her eyes and let Max hold her hand, "I can't lose you."
"I know, honey, but we can enjoy the time we have here together" Max said, wiping the tears from Sara's eyes with his thumb, "wanna tell me about your classes?"
"No, I wanna hear more about you" Sara said, taking a sip of her chocolate milkshake.
Sara and Max chatted as they finished their breakfasts and paid their own bills.
"I'm gonna get an Uber back to campus, since I only have fifteen minutes before my class starts" Sara said, hugging Max, "why don't you come to Loretta's for Thanksgiving? You'll get to meet Annabel and see Barney."
"I would like that" Max said, smiling a bit.
That night after Annabel was asleep, Barney kissed Sara passionately, his hands slipping under her clothes, rubbing her skin.
Sara slipped Barney's shirt off and kissed his skin, feeling him take her jeans and undies off.
Barney slipped Sara's shirt and bra off, smiling as he saw Sara's breasts, "finally, I've released the hostages" he kissed her left one first, then her right one. He then licked her clavicle, looking into Sara's eyes, "how are you feeling?"
"I'm good" Sara said, feeling Barney lay her on the bed on her back.
"Good" Barney purred in Sara's ear as he began kissing her skin as he inserted his penis into her slit.
Sara gasped as he entered her, then relaxed, "no condom tonight?"
"Nope. You're on the pill, right?" Barney asked, stroking Sara's hair as he kissed her neck.
"Yeah" Sara said, feeling Barney start to thrust inside her. She wrapped her arms and legs around his torso, whimpering softly.
"Good" Barney purred in her ear as he went harder and faster, his arms wrapped tightly around her torso.
Sara kissed Barney passionately, closing her eyes.
Two hours later, Sara felt Barney explode deep inside her for the fourth time that night. Both of them were sweaty and panting heavily.
"Let's shower and get some sleep" Barney said, helping Sara out of bed and walked to their bathroom, not bothering with clothes.
Sara smiled and stepped into the shower, turning it on as Barney got in behind her. She felt him press her against the far shower wall and thrust into her from behind.
Barney kissed her back and shoulders as he thrust hard and deep inside his girlfriend, his hands rubbing her sides and squeezed her breasts hard.
The two of them washed their hair before washing each others bodies and had some more shower sex before going to bed.
A month later was Thanksgiving break.
Sara packed her clothes into her suitcase while Barney packed his. The two of them would help Annabel after they were done packing their clothes.
"Are you sure you're okay with my dad coming?" Sara asked, putting in a pair of pajamas into her suitcase.
"Sar, for the 100th time, yes" Barney said, finishing packing his suitcase.
"You don't think your mom will be too mad, will she?" Sara asked, zipping up her dark green suitcase.
"I explained what was happening and she's understanding" Barney said, zipping up his tan suitcase.
The two of them headed to Annabel's room and helped her pack her Bluey suitcase.
"Can I bring Bluey with me?" Annabel asked, indicating to her large Bluey stuffed animal.
"Bluey might be too big, but you can bring a small stuffed animal" Sara said, going to Annabel's toy chest as Barney went to the kitchen to pack snacks for the four hour trip.
"How about Kitty?" Annabel suggested, getting her stuffed cat she always slept with.
"Kitty is perfect - put her in your suitcase, then let's go potty before we go" Sara said.
"Kitty's a boy, mama" Annabel said.
"I'm sorry - I didn't mean to hurt Kitty's feelings" Sara said, hugging her little girl.
Up until school started for Barney and Sara, Annabel hadn't uttered a word. Sara and Barney worried she might be mute. The speech therapist told them that it would take time.
One day, Sara took Annabel to the stable she used to ride at. Doctor Who was long gone - he had passed away in his pasture - he had been 33 years old, which wasn't too old for a horse.
Brit had taken over the stable from her parents and had Annabel ride a pure black pony named Raven.
Sara led Raven around the arena, looking over her shoulder once in a while at her toddler having so much fun.
By the time it was time to put Raven back in her stall, Annabel hugged the pony around her neck and uttered her first word - pony.
Since that day, Annabel was a chatterbox, especially if she was around someone or something she loved, such as her best friend at daycare named Chloe.
A short while later, Sara, Barney and Annabel were in Barney's car headed to Loretta's house.
Sara was in front, Barney drove and Annabel was in her carseat behind Sara, watching a movie on her tablet, her unicorn headphones over her ears.
"Remind me who else will be there" Sara asked Barney, helping herself to some hummus and green pepper slices.
"Your dad, my mom, my half-brother James and James' partner Lee" Barney said, "my mom also has a dog - a miniature Labradoodle named Lulu and James is bringing his Black Lab named Shadow."
"Gotcha. Annabel hasn't really been around dogs, so we'll have to keep an eye on her" Sara said.
Barney nodded, "changing the subject, did you bring your homework with you?"
"I got it all done before we left" Sara said.
Sara's teachers rarely gave a lot of homework, other than if tests or midterms were coming up, then they dumped homework on her like it was dirt and she was a flower bed, "did you get yours done?"
"Yup" Barney said, "got it done while Annabel was at daycare."
"Good, so we have nothing hanging over our heads" Sara said, smiling as Barney kissed her hand at a red light.
Barney kissed the back of Sara's hand and looked in the rearview mirror - Annabel was fast asleep.
What seemed like forever, Barney pulled his car into the driveway of his mom's house. He turned off the ignition and looked over at Sara.
Sara was fast asleep with her face pressed against the window, her hands clasped together on her lap.
Annabel yawned as she woke up, "where are we?" She asked in a hoarse voice.
"We're at G-ma's house" Barney said, taking off his seatbelt and gently shook Sara's shoulder, "honey, we're here."
"Mkay" Sara said, yawning and stretching as she took off her seatbelt.
Two African-American men and a man with tanned skin exited the house and made a beeline for the car, hugging Barney.
Sara helped Annabel out of her carseat and held her close, "honey, this is your uncle James, uncle Lee and your G-paw."
Annabel buried her face in Sara's shoulder.
James hugged Sara carefully, "it's so good to see you."
"You too!" Sara said, carefully hugging James before hugging Lee, "how are you?"
"I'm good, honey" Lee said in a warm voice.
Sara hugged her dad as James, Barney and Lee brought the bags inside.
"Mama" Annabel said as she and Sara entered the house.
"I'm right here, honey" Sara assured her little girl, helping her take off her shoes as Sara took off her Crocs.
Two blurs of fur - a brown blur and a black blur ran around the house, barking happily.
Annabel became scared and cuddled into Sara.
Barney pet the dogs, "hey girls. Are you two being good?"
"See, the doggies are nice" Sara said, sitting on the floor with Annabel.
"The brown one is Lulu and the black one is Shadow. Lulu is a mini Labradoodle and she's about 3 years old. Shadow is a Black Lab and is almost ten, but she still has energy" James said.
"Which one do you want to pet?" Barney asked, laughing as Shadow licked his face.
Annabel pointed to Lulu, "that puppy."
Loretta handed Annabel a dog treat, "have Lulu sit, say 'gentle' then you can give her the treat."
"Sit" Annabel told Lulu, smiling as the dog sat on her haunches, "gentle" she laid her hand flat and put the treat in the middle of it.
Lulu gobbled up the treat, her tail wagging. Lulu was brown with white feet, a white spot on her tail and a blaze that ran down her face.
"Good doggy" Annabel said, cuddling into Sara.
"Let's put the dogs in the backyard, then show Barney and family where they're staying" Loretta told James and Lee as Sara, Barney and Annabel stood up.
Annabel cuddled into Sara.
"Annabel, you're on the first floor while Sara and Barney are in Barney's childhood bedroom" Loretta said.
Sara nodded, "I'm gonna put Annabel down for a nap, then I'll be ready to hang out with the adults."
"Okay" Loretta said, showing Sara the guest room where Annabel would be staying.
Sara laid Annabel on the bed, "love you, sweet girl" she kissed Annabel's forehead and tucked her in before leaving the room, making sure to turn off the overhead light.
Barney was in his room when Sara joined him, "how'd nap time go?"
"Really good" Sara said, smiling at Barney.
"What?" Barney asked, seeing the smile on Sara's face. He smirked and closed the door before locking it. He then laid next to Sara and kissed her passionately.
Before long, both of them were naked and making out. The two of them stopped when there was a knock on the door.
"We're leaving for the restaurant soon, so get dressed and make sure Annabel is ready. We leave in 20 minutes with or without you" James said from the other side of the door.
"I forgot we were going out to dinner tonight" Barney said, kissing Sara's bare shoulder before getting off her and rummaged through his suitcase while Sara went through hers.
15 minutes later, the three of them were ready to go to the restaurant.
"How are we carpooling?" Loretta asked.
"We can take one person in our car" Barney said.
"We can fit someone" James said.
"Dad, how about you ride with us and Loretta, you ride with James?" Sara suggested.
"Okay. The restaurant is called La Margareta and the address is 1225 Lincoln" Loretta said as she got into the front seat of James' car.
Sara squeezed in back with Annabel as her dad got in the front seat.
After dinner, everyone headed back to Loretta's house. Sara gave Annabel her bath while Barney went on a walk with James and Lee.
Loretta and Max changed into their pajamas and sat at the table, getting a deck of cards out and started shuffling.
"So, how are you doing?" Loretta asked Max as they shuffled the cards.
"I'm doing okay, thank you for asking" Max said, "and how are you?"
"I'm doing well" Loretta said, "what card game are we playing?"
"Crazy Eights" Max said.
"What's Crazy Eights?" Sara asked, coming from the room that Annabel was in.
"We're gonna play Crazy Eights - is that okay?" Loretta asked.
Sara nodded, going to the kitchen, "I'm gonna make some tea. Can I get anyone anything?"
"Actually, would you mind making me some?" Loretta and Max asked in unison.
"Sure" Sara said, getting the teapot ready and put some water in it. She then got a couple packets of herbal tea out.
Barney, Lee and James came in from walking the dogs.
James and Lee wiped down the dogs paws while Barney walked to Sara.
"How's my girl?" Barney asked, kissing her passionately.
"I'm fine" Sara said, "just making my dad, your mom and myself some tea. Does anyone else want any?"
"No thanks" Lee, James and Barney said in unison.
After the tea was made, everyone settled in to play Crazy Eights.
The following day was Thanksgiving. Everyone worked together all day to get dinner on the table, everyone except Sara and Annabel.
Sara and Annabel worked on a craft while everyone else worked in Loretta's kitchen - Max and Barney made mashed potatoes; James and Lee polished silverware and Loretta made stuffing. Everything else was being catered.
That evening at 6:30, everyone sat down to have dinner. All the conversations were full of laughter.
Sara helped Annabel into her carseat as Barney put their bags in the trunk. Everyone was leaving - James, Lee and Shadow had left already, just leaving Barney, Sara, Annabel and Max.
"We'll see you for Christmas" Sara said, hugging her dad.
"See you at Christmas" Max echoed, watching his little girl get into the passenger's seat. He looked at Barney, "drive safe."
"I will, sir" Barney said, turning on the ignition.
"Bye G-paw!" Annabel said cutely from the back seat.
Christmas came and went, and now, Barney and Sara were back at school, while Annabel was at daycare.
On January 28th, Sara's world came crashing down. She, Barney and Annabel were outside playing in the snow. Sara's phone was inside being charged, since it only had 3 percent battery. Sara was using Barney's phone to take pictures and videos of the three of them playing.
Sara's phone rang a total of six times before going to voicemail.
Hey! It's your girl Sara Collins. I can't come to the phone right now, but if you leave your name, number and a brief message, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Have a great rest of your day! Sara's voicemail came on.
Sara, this is your aunt Cassie - your dad's older sister. I'm sorry to say that Max passed away today about 20 minutes ago. Please call me back when you can a woman's sad voice came on the voicemail.
Sara, Barney and Annabel came inside an hour later. The three of them took off their winter gear.
"Hey, Barn, can you put Annabel down for her nap?" Sara asked.
"Sure" Barney said, picking up Annabel, "c'mon, sweetie. Let's get you on the train to dreamland."
Annabel cuddled into Barney as she felt him carry her to her room.
Sara entered the passcode on her phone and started to play one of her favorite games when she saw she had a voicemail. She sat on the couch as she listened to the voicemail, tears in her eyes.
Barney joined Sara a moment later, "honey, what's wrong?"
Sara buried her face in Barney's chest, heaving with sobs.
Barney rubbed her back, "sweetheart, what's wrong?"
Sara handed Barney her phone with shaking hands, "listen to the voicemail" she said between sobs.
Barney listened to the voicemail. He held Sara in his arms, "baby, I'm so sorry."
Sara sobbed into Barney's shirt, getting the hiccups.
Barney held her, letting her cry for however long she needed to.
When Annabel was up from her nap, Barney and Sara talked to her before the three of them had dinner.
"Honey, something happened today that has mommy really upset" Barney said, looking at his daughter, then at his girlfriend, "do you want to say or me?"
"I will" Sara said, clearing her throat, "while the three of us were playing outside, I got a phone call from your great-aunt Cassie. Grandpa passed away in his sleep."
Annabel's eyes grew wide, "G-paw died?"
Sara and Barney nodded, frowning as their little girl cried. The two of them held Annabel on both their laps, rubbing her back.
Annabel ended up crying herself to sleep.
"I'll put her to bed if you wanna order pizza" Sara said, carefully picking up Annabel.
"Okay" Barney said, kissing Sara's forehead, "I love you, beautiful."
"I love you, too, handsome" Sara said, taking Annabel to her room.
After Sara and Barney had pizza, the two of them cuddled in their room.
Sara laid in front of Barney, feeling him rub her back gently as she cried.
"Here, let me hold you" Barney said, getting Sara onto his lap. He wrapped his loving arms around her, "I'm here if you wanna talk."
"I just wanna stay here for a while" Sara said, feeling Barney's strong arms wrap around her torso, "I'm an orphan now."
Barney kissed Sara's forehead, then her lips, "my mother will always love you. You also have me and Annabel, along with any other children we have."
"If we have a son, can we name him Max, after my dad?" Sara asked, laying her head on Barney's shoulder.
"Of course" Barney said, holding his beloved girlfriend close.
The following day, Sara emailed her professors to let them know there was a death in the family and she wouldn't be in class that day. Within minutes all of Sara's professors emailed her back, telling her to take as much time as she needed. They also said there was no rush on homework.
The entire day, Sara and Barney looked at pictures of Max.
"Do you have any good memories of your dad?" Barney asked.
Sara nodded, taking a sip of her tea with shaking hands, "I have so many good memories of my dad."
"Can you tell me a few?" Barney asked, looking at a picture of Max and an older girl. He later found out that the older girl in the picture was Sara's aunt Cassie, Max's older sister by 5 years.
Sara nodded, thinking about which memory to tell Barney of her dad - she had so many great ones, "there's four special ones I wanna tell you about. One of them involves you."
Barney smiled, "are these appropriate to tell at the funeral?"
Sara nodded, "all of them are. I'm gonna start by telling you my favorite memory - feeding ducks at the zoo."
Five year old Sara stayed near her dad as they headed to the duck pond. The two of them had spent the entire day at the zoo, having a great time. They had gone to the petting zoo, Sara rode a pony named Rose and got to watch the penguins being fed.
Now, the two of them were just wrapping up their visit by feeding the ducks.
"Ducky ducky ducky!" Sara squealed as she chased the ducks with a Zip-Loc baggie full of oats, since Max read that bread wasn't good for the ducks' digestive system.
Max chuckled, "spread some oats on the ground, sweetie."
"Okay daddy" Sara said, opening the bag and spread some oats on the ground.
Four ducks made their way over to Sara, quacking loudly. One flapped its wings in Sara's face, making her scream.
Max looked up from taking pictures, "what's wrong, honey?"
"Scary ducky!" Sara said, hiding behind Max.
Max chuckled and helped his little girl feed the ducks, happy for the time they spent together.
Barney smiled, "what else?"
Sara smiled, thinking about another favorite memory of hers…
Ten-year-old Sara sat in her room, reading a book. She could hear her dad on the phone with somebody.
"Daddy, who are you talking to?" Sara asked, putting her book down.
Max sighed as he looked at his little girl, "I have to go into the city for a conference, but I can't find anyone to watch you. If it's okay with my boss, do you want to come?"
Sara nodded, going to get her suitcase.
Before Sara and her dad knew it, they were in Manhattan, which was a 6 hour train ride from their small town in upstate New York.
Sara watched the snow dance outside her window. It was almost Christmas, which was one of Sara's favorite times of year. She loved everything about Christmas - spending time with her dad, going ice skating, seeing The Nutcracker, Christmas shopping and everything else in between.
The second day Sara and her dad were in Manhattan, Max scored tickets to see Wicked.
Sara squealed with joy as she and her dad walked into the theater where Wicked was showing, "I'm so excited to see this musical! I've heard nothing but great things."
"It's about to get even better - I scheduled a Meet and Greet with the actresses that play Elphaba and Glinda, along with the actor that plays Fiyero" Max said.
"Best…Christmas….Ever!" Sara said, hugging Max tightly.
Barney chuckled, "that must've been a fun experience."
"It was. I also loved our time when Dad and I took a trip to the Grand Canyon" Sara said.
Barney smiled, watching his girlfriend light up with memories of her dad.
The summer Sara turned twelve, she and her dad went to the Grand Canyon, since Sara and Max had never been.
The two of them were waiting in line to ride horses down the canyon, then back up.
"I can't wait. I wonder what my horses' name will be" Sara said.
"Sara and Max, you're up" the trail leader said, "Sara - you're riding Martini and Max, you're on Gin."
Sara went to a grey horse, "is this Martini?"
"Yup. Do you need a leg up?" The trail leader asked.
"Yes please" Sara said, putting her foot in the stirrup and swung her leg over.
In the pen, Sara got used to Martini's moves. She smiled over at Max who was on a large chestnut horse.
"Who is that?" Sara asked her dad.
"Gin. Who're you riding?" Max asked.
"Martini" Sara said, patting the mare's neck, "dad, I wanna have horseback riding lessons when we get back."
"Of course, sweetie" Max said.
Soon, Sara, Max and the group followed the trail leader down the Grand Canyon. There were about 10 others in the group.
"Guiding your horses up the Canyon will be difficult, so tie the rope around your saddle horn" the guide said.
Everyone did as the guide instructed.
A few minutes later, everyone made it safely up the Canyon and dismounted their horses.
Barney smiled, "you have so many great memories of your dad."
Sara nodded, cuddling into Barney, "we were really close."
"What other memories do you want to share with me before we go to bed?" Barney asked, running a hand up and down Sara's back.
"I have one more that I wanna share with you. It's my favorite because it involves you" Sara said.
Barney smiled as Sara made herself comfortable in his arms.
Sara sat in her room, braiding her hair after her shower. She was getting ready for the Homecoming Dance - her first dance with Barney as her date.
Barney made his way up the front porch, practicing what he would say to Sara's dad. He rang the doorbell and stood back so someone could answer the door.
"Coming!" Max said, answering the door. He looked Barney up and down, "you're Sara's date?"
"Yes, sir" Barney said, looking up at Max, "can I come in?"
"Yeah" Max said, stepping aside.
Barney entered Sara's house for the first time, "so, where's Sara?"
"She's finishing getting ready" Max said, leading the two of them to the leather couches in the living room, "so, tell me, what are your intentions with my daughter?"
"My what?" Barney asked, a little confused.
"Your intentions - what do you want to do with her?" Max inquired.
"Oh, well, um I - uh" Barney said, fumbling over his words.
Sara came upstairs at that moment, holding the bottom of her dress so she wouldn't trip.
She was in a midnight blue ankle-length dress that had quarter-length sleeves. She also wore midnight blue flats on her feet. Her hair was pulled in a high ponytail and she had a little bit of makeup on.
"Oh my goodness - you look beautiful" Barney said, going to Sara and put a corsage around her wrist.
"Thank you. You look handsome" Sara said, indicating to Barney's suit.
"We had a great time that night" Barney said, holding Sara as she slept.
Sara slept cuddling Barney.