Ladies' Night chapter Epilogue
A/N: I’d like to once again thank Tazzer and Sydne for all their invaluable help and I would like to thank everyone who read this story. I hope you enjoyed it.
EPILOGUE.
Sofia spends the following months in and out of the hospital. As the last one standing of the quartet, she feels it’s her responsibility to take on the lion’s share of watching over her fallen family. She is the first person to arrive at the beginning of visiting hours and usually the last one to leave when they end. In between, Sofia splits her time between the three adults and premie baby. She reads, talks and just sits by their side, hoping that her mere presence is enough to let them know they are not alone. When Catherine is able, the detective is the one to push her wheelchair so the older woman can visit her newborn daughter.
It is six months later, and the wounds, both physical and psychological have healed. All that is left are the scars, which provide constant, vivid reminders of what the four of them almost lost. They are reminders of how fragile life is, how quickly things change and how foolish fear is. But they are also reminders of how, through friendship and family any obstacle can be overcome.
Gil stands in the entryway of the living room, admiring Sofia’s beauty as she stares out the bay windows of her - their first-floor condo. During his convalescence, Sofia brought him to her home, and slowly over the days that stretched into weeks, his belongings made their way to her, now their bedroom closet. By the time he was well enough to go home, he didn’t want to leave and neither did she. For the millionth time since she said yes to his dinner invitation, he thinks how damn lucky he is to have found a woman, who is neither judgmental nor boring. “You do know that they’re not going to get here any quicker with you starring out the window? Don’t you?” A bemused half-smile is painted across his face. “They’ve only been gone a week.”
Sofia turns to face him, a bemused smile of her own lighting her face. “Oh, don’t you dare give me that line. Just because you’re better at hiding it, doesn’t mean you’re just as excited as I am to see them - especially Gillian and Lindsey.” Gil pads over to his angel and envelopes her in his arms. Kissing her deeply he’s thankful that he has a second chance and he’s determined to not waste a second of it. “You know you love spoiling your nieces rotten, you big softie.” She continues when she pulls away. She is no longer surprised at these spontaneous shows of affection, she understands perfectly, his need for human contact.
“Just don’t tell anyone, you’ll ruin my rep,” Gil says in a low conspirator voice.
Sofia laughs. “Okay, big tough guy. Though I think if anyone saw you in my floral apron, you wouldn’t have to worry about anything I have to say.”
“What? You don’t like it?”
“Oh, I like it just fine. But I like what’s inside even better.” Sofia gives him her best devil-may-care smile, before pulling into another slow deep kiss. A kiss which is broken by a loud honking.
“Stop giving the neighbors a show and help us out!” Catherine calls from the passenger side window.
“Yeah, we’ve been watching you make out for the past 10 minutes. I’m starting to get nauseous,” Warrick adds from the driver seat.
“Oh shut up, the both of you. I’ll be out right out there,” Sofia yells out in a laughing voice.
The two lovers part, but not before Gil quickly whispers in Sofia’s ear. “You do know my dear, we’re going to have to get back at them, for that?”
“Oh hell yeah, we’re getting them back bugman, now you go in the kitchen and finish dinner, I’ll go help them.”
“You just want to hold the baby before me.”
“Damn straight,” the blonde calls over shoulder.
Quickly making her way outside to the car, she is warmly greeted by Warrick, Catherine and Lindsey. “So, how was the honeymoon? Did you manage to get some time alone?”
“Why did you think we took my mom along?” Catherine replies with an embarrassed chuckle. “The desk-clerk nearly choked on his tongue when he saw the five of us ask for the honeymoon suite. But it was cool, mom took them on a few day trips, so it worked out.”
“Where is Lily?”
Catherine smile falters before she answers tersely. “Sam’s place.”
While the women talk, Warrick grabs Gillian’s baby bag. He then hands it over to his wife, before leaning in and kissing Catherine fully on the lips, only pulling back when he senses her sour mood evaporate. “Maui was beautiful.” Warrick says, trying to pull the conversation away from unpleasant topics. Turning his attention back to the car he proceeds to carefully lift his 6-month baby girl out of her car-seat and hand her off to a grateful Sofia, who proceeds to cradle and coo her. No one would ever be able to tell that Gillian spent nearly the first three months of her life under the blue lights of NICU. She is healthy and strong and bares no internal or external reminders of her premie status. Her skin and eye colors are both taken from her father with thick black curls crowning her head. The rest is her mother’s, right down to her smile that Warrick knows he is never going to be able say no to. “We had a great time, and we bought everyone gifts.”
“Speaking of which . . . ” Catherine says while fixing Sofia with a pointed look. “Where is the rest of the team?”
“Uh, maybe we should go inside . . . ”
“Sofia.”
“They’ll be here - in half an hour.” In an uncharacteristic turn, Sofia cheeks turned a slightly pink.
“Ha-ha, you guys owe me 20 bucks each,” Lindsey crows in triumph. Stretching her hand out she receives her winnings happily from the two disgruntled adults.
“What was that about?” Sofia asks as she leads them to the house.
“We had a bet going,” Catherine explains. “I said you’d lie and tell the rest of the team to come an hour after us, Lindsey said half an hour and Warrick said you would even bother inviting them.”
“Warrick! All three of you are terrible. Besides Gil wouldn’t let me.”
“So you did think of not inviting them. Didn’t you?” Warrick asks.
“I - Gil Sweetheart, could you come out here - please?”
Wiping his hand on his apron, Gil walks into the hallway to see Catherine, Warrick and Lindsey enjoying a laugh at Sofia’s expense. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing, just a little good nature ribbing,” Catherine answers as she pulls him into a hug. “By the way, I like your apron. Rick’s got one just like it at home.”
“Hey, at least I can cook more than two dishes,” Warrick defends.
“Two whole dishes? Sofia can cook Three - sort of.” Gil says.
“Excuse me, but Catherine and I are modern-woman, we don’t need to know how cook.”
“Right, we have you guys to do all the cooking.” Catherine adds.
“Whatever you two say. Now, why don’t we adjourn to the living room and have some wine while we wait for the others,” Gil suggests.
The rest of the team arrives shortly after. To anyone passing by, hearing the laughter and talking from inside, they would certainly draw the conclusion that this is a family filled with much happiness and love. And they would be right.
THE END!