A/N: I don't own the characters, or Gil would have been banging Catherine for years by now. My first story here. Feel free to comment, but please be gentle. ;) Thanks!

The first thing he heard was the water running in his shower. Catherine, he thought. Smiling, he rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. The clock on his nightstand read 3:32 pm. He looked around the room. Sunlight filtered through the blinds and formed striped patterns on the hardwood floor. It was a cool, quiet afternoon. He was home with the person he loved. He couldn't think of a time he was happier than now.

"About time you woke up, sleepy head." Catherine emerged from the bathroom in nothing but a towel.

"Hey." He beamed at seeing the vision in front of him. "You leaving? You only shower before you leave."

Catherine walked up to him and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Yeah. Lindsey is coming by for dinner. I need to pick up some food and get ready."

"Oh right. She e-mailed me about it and asked if I could come, but I thought maybe you two would like a girl's night."

As Catherine took off the towel and started getting dressed, he got up from the bed and cuddled her from behind. She giggled. "You're always so sweet to me."

"I can't help it. You're my queen." He started kissing her neck while his hands touched her breasts. Catherine sighed in contentment.

"Stop it, or I won't be able to get out of this room."

"I don't intend to let you."

"What about girl's night? Lindsey will be disappointed."

His movement stopped. "Fine. You win." Looking a little disappointed, he handed Catherine her panties. "Get dressed before I change my mind," he said with a wicked grin on his face.

Catherine quickly dressed, brushed her hair and put on some light make-up while he used the bathroom. When he got out, she kissed him deeply and said good-bye.

"Catherine?"

She turned around on her way out of his apartment at his call.

"I love you," he said, leaning on the door frame of his bedroom, a shy, boyish look on his handsome face.

Her million-watt smile lit up her face. "Call me." Then, as she left, she turned her head around and winked at him.

"Oh, I love you too, Lou."

He chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.

"Have you guys decided on the date?"

"Not yet. We want to do it in the fall, but I'm going to Boston for a forensic conference in September."

Lindsey put the dishes into the dish washer and walked into the living room with two cans of Diet Coke in her hands. She curled up next to her mother on the couch and gave Catherine a can. "So? Make it October."

"Maybe. Lou and I will work on that." Catherine sipped her Diet Coke. "How's school?"

"Good, good. The professors love me." Lindsey looked at her mother with a mischievous look.

"What?" Catherine asked before taking another sip.

The younger Willows woman grinned. "A couple of them asked me for your phone number."

Catherine almost spat out her drink. "They didn't!"

"Oh yes they did." Lindsey laughed. "They said they'd like to ask you some questions about their studies, but you should have seen the looks on their faces when I told them you were engaged."

Lindsey's cell phone beeped, indicating a new text message. She fished the phone out of her bag and read the text. "Jen's here. I gotta go."

Catherine stood up. "Are you sure you girls don't want to spend the night here?"

"Sorry, Mom. Got an exam in the morning. I don't want to be late."

Lindsey stopped at the door and hugged Catherine tightly. "Oh God. You're really getting married."

"You bet I am."

"I'm so happy for you, Mom."

"I know."

"I love you."

"I love you too, baby."

Lindsey kissed her mother on the cheek and opened the door. "Bye," she called over her shoulder as she quickly made her way to her roommate's car.

Catherine stood in the doorway and smiled. The past two and half years had been the happiest time in her life, she thought. Things at work had been going well. Her daughter was doing great in college and planning to go to medical school. She had fallen in love with her long-time detective friend Louis Vartann, and he had asked her to marry him just last month. She looked at the shiny engagement ring on her finger. Life was almost perfect. Almost.

Only one thing was missing, but Catherine knew better than to wish for that. She closed the door and walked back into the living room. As she cleaned the coffee table, her cell phone rang. She found the phone and looked at the caller ID.

No. This couldn't be true.

She pressed the answer button with excitement.

"Gil?"