Title: If The Shoe Fits
Rating: CSI-1 / K+
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI.
Summary: 'tis a fairy tale of sorts…
A/N: This is AU. Some bits are taken from canon, but you'll soon see that it is pretty much all AU. This was attempt three at a story for the Twelve Days of Christmas Challenge, and sadly, as with the previous two attempts, it did not get finished. Today however, inspiration struck, so here it is. All chapters to be posted tonight, providing my Internet co-operates. Apologies for the lateness, but Merry Christmas!
Dedication: To Alza for covering my day in the challenge when I failed to come up with anything. Thank you!

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Chapter One

Once upon a time there was a Crime Scene Investigator by the name of Gil Grissom. He lived in a far away land called Las Vegas; a land of lights and entertainment; a land where Elvis lived and aliens conducted marriage ceremonies.

Gil was generally a happy man. He loved his job, he had many friends – most of them of the insect variety, but he found them much easier to understand – and he was financially secure.

But once a year Gil allowed his thoughts to wander to the kind of life he could be living. He wondered what it would be like to have fallen in love, to have married and had children. In his dreams he imagined what his wife would have looked like: soft, strawberry blonde hair bouncing around her shoulders; bright, mischievous eyes that he could never tire of gazing into; a smile that melted all troubles into insignificance. He had heard that it was not possible to dream of someone you had never met; but he was certain he would have remembered meeting this woman.

Images of his dream world stayed with him when he awoke, tugging on his heart, reminding him that there was something missing from his life. That is why he only allowed the dreams once a year; he couldn't stand the feelings of regret.

It happened that the 'once a year' fell at Christmas time. The images of happy families all over the television and in the shops would have conjured his thoughts anyway, and so he made his indulgence coincide with the festive season.

He would work the entire holiday to distract himself as much as possible, and decline any invitations to parties – not wishing to watch other people enjoying the life he longed for. It had become his routine five years ago, and he had accepted that.

But then one year, the Crime Lab's Assistant Director, Conrad Ecklie, insisted that Gil take Christmas off work. Ecklie had found a clause in the employment contract that ensured all employees would receive at least one Christmas off in every five, and panicked when he realised Gil had worked five consecutive holidays. Gil's insistence that he didn't mind went unheard, and Ecklie assured him he would feel the Sheriff's wrath if he were to set foot in the building before January 1st.

Unaccustomed to being free, and not having work as a valid excuse for not attending Christmas parties, Gil found himself having agreed to attend a Christmas ball being held by his good friend, Jim Brass – a human friend, not an insect!

When the evening came, Gil stood in front of his closet unable to decide what to wear. His reluctance to go wasn't helping matters. He had tried to get out of it, but before he could even broach the topic, Brass had told him how pleased he was that he would finally be joining the festivities. He couldn't bring himself to wipe the smile from his old friend's face at Christmas.

He eventually removed a tuxedo that had hung in his closet since his cousin's wedding seven years ago, and was relieved to see that the bowtie was wrapped around the hanger; or else he would have had no idea where to find it.

He was also relieved to find that the suit still fit him.

Finally dressed and ready to leave, Gil picked up the gifts he had bought for Jim and his wife, and set out for the ball.

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Meanwhile, across town at a club called The French Palace, Catherine Willows stormed out of her manager's office, slamming the door as hard as she could behind her.

As if it wasn't bad enough that she and her husband had just separated after she found him with someone else in their bed, her idiot of a manager would not allow her this one night off in order to go to a masquerade ball with her friend. She was willing to work Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, and all the way through to the new year, she just wanted this one night. But, no: He wouldn't allow it. And she suspected it was because he was also attending, and he didn't want to be seen with her outside the club. How he kept the true nature of his club a secret from his friends she didn't know; but he seemed to think Vegas was oblivious to the fact that he ran one of its most popular strip clubs.

Muttering every curse she could think of under her breath, Catherine stamped her way out of the back fire exit and into the cool night air. She instantly took a deep breath and forced back tears that were about to fall. A sob escaped her though.

She just wanted this one night. It was Jenny's neighbour's ball and she had invited Catherine to go with her, knowing that she needed a break – both from work and from thinking about Eddie. She had found someone willing to work in her place, but the entire plan was thrown into jeopardy when Ben announced that he had been invited to the same ball, and therefore she would have to stay and work, as they couldn't both take the night off. It was complete nonsense – she wasn't management, their rotas were entirely independent – but he had made his decision, and she couldn't afford to lose her job.

She took several more deep breaths, trying to let her anger go in the puffs of air, but, every time she thought about going back into the building, her stomach churned. She dropped herself back against the wall, leaning her head on the cold brick, wrapping her arms around her chest.

And that was where Fay found her minutes later.

"Catherine," her colleague said quietly, prompting Catherine to open her eyes and force a smile. "Ben's gone."

Catherine let out a sigh. "I'll be in in a minute."

A smile crept across Fay's lips. "I've spoken to Mike…"

Mike was the bar manager – well, the duty manager now that Ben had left.

"… and to the others… And you shall go to the ball."

Catherine's eyes widened. "What?"

"Mike said you can go… And we won't tell, if you don't," Fay grinned.

Catherine smiled with disbelief before remembering one vital fact. "But Ben's going to the same ball."

"And it's a masquerade ball is it not?"

Hope began to take root in Catherine's heart again. "It is."

"Then make sure your disguise is a good one."

Catherine managed to suppress her squeal of delight, but flung her arms around Fay, holding her tightly to show her gratitude. "Thank you!" she exclaimed as she pulled away. "I really owe you one!"

"And I'll collect," Fay grinned. "Now, come inside, we're all ready to do your hair and make up."

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Gil knew a few of the other guests from the police department, but had spent the first hour of the party on his own in a corner – not least because, in all his anxiety, he had forgotten that Jim had told him it was a masquerade ball, and he felt oddly exposed, as the only man there without a mask on.

The minutes continued to tick by, and Jim was still occupied mingling with his guests. When a raucous peal of laughter came from the table next to him, Gil decided it was time to get some fresh air. Picking up his jacket, he made his way round the edge of the dance floor and towards the ballroom exit.

He reached out to open the door, just as it swung towards him, narrowly missing clipping his nose.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!"

After recovering from the surprise, Gil realised that the apology had come from the woman currently standing in front of him, wearing a long black evening gown, and a silver diamante encrusted mask that covered all but her lower face. Her hair was piled high on her head; strips of light, black and silver material woven into it, more diamantes interspersed throughout the do, catching the light from every angle. She looked amazing… And she looked concerned.

"Oh," Gil responded, realising that she was most likely concerned because he hadn't responded, "Please, don't worry. It missed me."

She smiled with relief and Gil was taken aback by the familiarity of her smile. It faltered again as his reaction must have brought back her concern.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked him.

"Yes. Yes I'm fine," he assured her.

She nodded. "Were you leaving?" she asked, and he noticed she had held the door open for him.

"Just for some fresh air," he told her.

"Okay," she smiled again, as he took over from her holding the door. She took two steps away from him and then turned back. "Maybe I'll see you inside then."

Gil smiled and nodded, and she walked away from him.

TBC…