One night in Manhattan

Falling.

As promised, Zac had Fatima in bed by 1:30 but neither of them had anything left in them to do anything other than sleep. They stared at the whiteboard for hours and tossed plans around about where and when to start. They decided they would start with a DNA test that Zac already ordered and was awaiting its arrival. Fatima told Zac that she would Forward everything she had from the original foster placement and the adoption agency and all her communications from the beginning to Zac once she was settled in ATL, as it was stored safely on her computer. After the DNA results proved what they already knew, Zac suggested the next steps be to have the NYPD launch an official investigation and to tell Seven. Fatima was hesitant about this part most of all. She'd always thought that Seven would decide whether she wanted to meet her birth parents when it was right for Seven. She considered how confusing it could be for them to reveal Zac as her father after having seen them together intimately. However mature she seemed, she was still only a baby and they needed to be sure to handle this and her delicately.

"Did you ever think about having another child? Like you and your ex?" Fatima asked Zac randomly cuddled in his arms.

Zac thought for a while. "you ever realize something way too late? In the years she and I were together, we never talked about having children except once."

"Once?"

"Yea, over the years a few of my students have given me cards for father's day. I used to keep them in this file folder like thing and they were ruined accidentally by some wine. Jordan saw I was upset and said something like 'your gonna have your own kids soon enough to replace them' or something like that and She said 'yea maybe' and then went on with the conversation. I never really thought about that moment again until after we broke up." Zac ran his hand across her thigh in circles thinking.

"So do you want more?" Fatima asked forcing them to switch positions so she could face him. His hands found her ass immediately and began repeating the same circle pattern as before as she draped her leg over his. "I'm not asking you for one. I am just asking.. after experiencing the loss of your child, have you considered it?" she explained. Her nails trailed his pecs.

"I've never thought about intentionally getting a woman pregnant, but I wasn't doing much to stop a pregnancy either. Does that make sense?"

"Yea. I guess, I can see that. But do you WANT more?" Fatima asked emphasizing the want.

Zac thought again. "Honestly, I don't know. What about you?" What Zac didn't tell her was that he wasn't sure because he was afraid. What happened with him and Brianna was traumatizing and now its retraumatizing him.

"Truthfully no. One thing motherhood has taught me is that it really does take a village. I couldn't imagine trying to do this with two kids alone. I see how some of my student's parents struggle and I'm forever grateful for Seven's tribe, cuz they show up and show out anytime she needs."

"Do you think you'll ever want more children?" Zac asked.

Fatima thought for a while, wondering if he was asking her for a reason other than conversation. "I don't know. Kids are a blessing but I'm learning that as I grow in age, my patience diminishes. Who wants to be 40 with a kindergartener?" Fatima laughed at the image she had in her mind. Knees cracking as she bent down to kiss her preschooler off." I can't lie tho, it would be nice for Seven to have a sibling. As an only child myself, it gets lonely." Fatima yawned

Zac nodded his head in agreement. He was too an only child. He didn't grow up with a big family or a lot of support "Ok beautiful, get some sleep." But Fatima didn't need his permission, she was already gone. Zac kissed her forehead, adjusted the blanket around her, double checked the alarm and allowed himself to drift as well.