Title: Grissom's Christmas
Disclaimers: I am in no way affiliated with CSI. I'm just borrowing them for some fun.
Rating: K
Spoilers: None really
Note: This takes place sometime after Eddie's death
Grissom carried the tray with three hot chocolates on it into the living room, pausing in the doorway to watch his family. 'My family,' he thought, smiling to himself. They'd always been family to each other, but since his and Catherine's wedding that summer, it had become official. And this was their first Christmas together as a new family.
Just then Catherine looked up from her seat on the couch. "Why are you just standing there, silly?" She asked teasingly. "We can't open presents until you get settled."
Smiling at his wife, Grissom moved forward and placed the tray of drinks on the coffee table. The adults picked up their mugs and sipped while Lindsay continued to examine the brightly wrapped packages under the tree. She turned to her mother and asked eagerly, "Can we open presents now?"
The adults laughed and Catherine replied, "Yes, honey, we can open presents now."
"Goody!" exclaimed Lindsay and burrowed into the stack of presents looking for a specific box. Yanking it triumphantly from the pile, she practically bounced as she came over to where the grown-ups were sitting. "Here Uncle Gil, open this one first," Lindsay said excitedly as she shoved the box into a very surprised Grissom's hands.
"Don't you want to open one of your presents first?" He asked. Lindsay just shook her head and gestured for him to open the box. Seeing how excited she was about it, Grissom decided to tease her a little by very slowly peeling up the corners of the wrapping paper.
"No, Uncle Gil, you're supposed to rip it!" Lindsay cried impatiently.
Grissom laughed and tore the rest of the paper off. He lifted the cover of the box and found a stack of official looking papers. He looked at Catherine in confusion.
Catherine turned to her daughter. "Lindsay, hon, you're going to have to explain your present."
"They're adoption papers!" the girl explained. "Now you can officially be my new daddy." When Grissom just sat there in stunned silence, Lindsay continued worriedly, "If you want to, that is."
The slight tremor in Lindsay's voice brought Grissom back to reality. "Of course I do. This is the best present I've ever gotten," he said sincerely. And then he had a little girl in his arms. He hugged his new daughter tight and then reached out an arm to encircle his new wife as well. What more could any man want for Christmas?