Sarah aimlessly pushed around the soggy cereal in her bowl as she watched Jennifer eat hers as she watched breakfast time cartoons. It had been a week since Brian had turned up on her door step and she hadn't stopped thinking about him since. She had always had a gut feeling that he'd turn up some day, but as the months had past she had become more confident that she had been wrong. But now he had turned up, and demanding to be in Jenni's life. She couldn't deny him that. She had always said to herself that if he turned up she wouldn't stop him being in her life.

So why had she lied? Why had she told him that she'd fooled around with others and that even Matt could be the father? She knew who the father was. She had stopped fooling around with other guys after she'd regularly started seeing Brian. There had been no one else.

"Morning my beautiful ladies." Sarah looked up with a half hearted smile at Seth as he entered the room. "You okay Sah?" he enquired kissing her cheek.

"Yeah fine. Just thinking." she told him. She hadn't told him that Brian had been in contact. She knew she'd have to soon, especially with Brian wanting to be part of Jenni's life.

"About anything interesting?" he queried.

"No, just thinking of what to cook for dinner later." she lied quickly as Seth poured coffee into his thermos mug.

"I'm sure whatever you decide will be wonderful." he said leaning down to kiss her lips briefly. "I've got to shoot though. Love you."

"Yeah love you too." she replied quietly as he walked away. As she heard his car pull out of the driveway she reached across the table and grabbed her phone. It was time she made a phone call.

***

Sitting at his breakfast counter, Brian took another long drag of his Marlboro, breathing the smoke out slowly. It had been a week and there had still not been any contact from Sarah about having the tests done. He'd been contemplating going back to Laguna, and had decided that he would give her to the end of the day to get in contact or he would be contacting his lawyer. It wasn't a route he wanted to take but he just couldn't let it go. He could deal with not having Sarah in his life, he was used to that, but now that he knew about the little girl he needed to know if he was really the father.

Taking a last drag on his cigarette before stubbing it out, he stood from his seat and poured himself another coffee, his will power just strong enough to stop him from putting a hefty shot of Johnny Walker in with it. He wandered out onto the patio area, reaching into his pocket to retrieve his ringing cell phone.

"Hello?" he queried not recognising the number on the screen.

"She's having tests done today. You need to be there too to have yours done." Sarah's voice was shaky as she spoke.

"Just tell me when and where and I'll be there." he said suddenly feeling nervous. She gave him the details he needed and before he could say anything else the line went dead.

His heart pounded rapidly in his chest Brian stared out at the ocean, his mind racing when he thought about how close he was to finally finding out the truth. He sat in silence, slowly sipping his coffee. He only moved when it was time for him to leave for Laguna.

*

It was times like these that Sarah would quite happily take up smoking again. Her stomach was a knot of nerves, her heart pounding in her chest, her palms hot and sweaty. She was sat in her doctor’s office with Jenni, her heart jumping into her throat every time the door opened. She chewed nervously at her finger nails as she waited glancing at the clock that hung above the receptionists’ desk. Her eyes darted back to the door as it opened again, holding her breath as Brian glanced quickly around the room to look for her. He smiled weakly at her as he crossed the room, her nervously returning the smile.

"Hey." she greeted him.

"Hi." he said sitting down next to her. "Thanks for setting this up, I appreciate it."
Sarah nodded, "I know, and you were right, you deserve to know the truth. You both do."

"And if she's mine you have no problem with me being in her life?" he asked. Sarah shook her head her reply interrupted as the receptionist called out her name.

"So as I understand you're here for a paternity test correct?" the doctor asked once the three of them were settled across the desk from him.

"Yes, that's right." Brian replied.

"You, Brian is it? You want to know if you are Jennifer's father or not?" the doctor asked.

"Jennifer? I- I didn't even know her name." Brian said, ignoring the doctor's question to turn to look at the little girl who was sat quietly on Sarah's knee.

"Jenni for short." she replied with a smile, before turning back to the doctor "and yes, that's right."

The doctor nodded and went on to explain the procedure and take the necessary samples he needed for the tests.

"How long before the results are back?" Brian asked as he held the small cotton bud against his arm where the doctor had just taken a blood sample.

"Should be no longer than a week. Would you like the results sent to your home or would you rather come back and get them?" he asked.

"Here please." Sarah replied quickly "If that's okay with you?" she added turning to Brian.

"Yeah that's fine with me." he replied with a nod.

"Okay then, I'll call Sarah when I get them back." the doctor said. They both thanked him before leaving the room.

"Do you need a ride home?" he asked once they were out in the parking lot.

"Erm, no it's okay, I've got my car." she replied pointing at the silver Audi that he'd seen her get out of the week before.

"Okay, well I guess I'll see you when you get the results." he said with a small smile. Sarah nodded and smiled back in return. He nodded silently again before he turned and headed back over to his car.

Sarah watched as he got into the car and drove off before turning her attention back to her daughter. "How about we get you some ice cream for being so brave hey?" she asked getting a cheerful smile in return.

Notes

Thoughts and comments? <3