Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Trust Gil Grissom to take an old wedding tradition and give it a new twist.
Part of the Time series. Follows "The Good Fight," "Closing Arguments," "Reconciliation," "Admitting Impediments," "Engaging Conversations," "When the Dead Can't Wait" and "Going with the Living" and takes places post season eight, circa February 2009.
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Prologue
"While I know Sara isn't much into following tradition," Grissom began as he addressed the small crowd of guests in attendance. "I couldn't resist appropriating this one, even though the Victorians originated the practice as a mean of ensuring good luck and fortune for the bride." He beamed at his new wife; Sara smile indulgently in return, amused that even at moment like this, Gil Grissom would still and ever be so quintessentially Grissom.
"On her wedding day, she would have with her something old, something new, something borrowed..."
"And something blue?" Sara finished for him.
"Yes," he replied. "A piece of jewelry or other family heirloom would often serve as the something old which represented her connection to her family and her old life, a connection that she would still maintain even after her marriage.
"A bride's wedding gown which was more often than not, the best dress she owned or would own, typically stood for the something new that celebrated the new life she was to make with her husband.
"The something borrowed could be almost anything, but it was to remind her to never forget that her friends and family would be there whenever she needed them.
"As for something blue, while women used to wear blue ribbons in their hair or in the trim of their dresses, brides now simply wear blue in their garters, not knowing that choice of color goes all the way back to biblical times and used to symbolize her purity, constancy and fidelity.
"Not being the bride, mind you," Grissom continued, smiling wryly. "I had to improvise just a little.
There was a long pause, where he seemed to be pondering his next words, but when he spoke, his voice was steady and even.
"I always knew I had the pleasure of possessing something old that was more precious than any gem or jewel, more dear that silver or gold –
"Old friends in all of you.
"As for something new..." He fiddled unconsciously with the new ring on his left hand as he resumed, "There is the dream and the hope and the joy and yes, a little trepidation to be found in new beginnings, in this new life," he admitted reluctantly, but honestly.
"What to borrow proved a little difficult. I tried to borrow someone else's words -- the wisdom of all of those who have gone before in hopes that I would find just the right words for this moment.
"But when I thought about all the sentiments I've ever heard or read, I found them incomplete and then I realized that merely love itself and simple words are far more lasting than all the flowery verse ever penned by all the greats that ever wrote in prose or rhyme."
"That and you promised..." Sara teased.
"True," he readily conceded, remembering all too well the no quotation promise he had made to her the week before. He turned to her and took her hand in his and said, "So these will have to do –"
He took a deep breath, met her gaze and whispered, "Sara, all I know is that I have but begun to love you."
For several long moments, there was nothing but the startled hush at the open intimacy in his admission. Nothing but the two of them.
As Sara reached up to caress his cheek, she seemed to be blinking back tears. Grissom wiped them away and ran his hand along her arm and down her back.
"As for something blue," he finally continued, his voice softer now. "Who would have thought that by breaking with tradition that you, my dear, would actually end up following it in the end?"
"You peeked," she scolded, her tone yet playful still.
For his part, he deigned no reply, except for the guilty sort of grin on his face that was in no way conciliatory and the mischievous look that played openly in his eyes. Sara merely shook her head and sighed.
Grissom drew up a glass. "So to old friends..." he said raising it in honor of those in attendance. "And new beginnings. To promises kept. And to you," he gestured to his new bride. "Always."