A/N: I have had this story in my head for a while, and now I've decided to write it down and post it! Okay, so this is the introduction and all the other chapters will be him remembering. I'll try to update often. I have Miss Mila helping me again along with our friend Alex. So, enjoy!!
Nick Stokes loved his family. Back when he was younger, before he met Grace or Alixandrya, he never would have imagined himself as a family man. Sure, he knew that one day he wanted a wife and kids, but a life like this had never crossed his mind. But he loved it. It was amazing, more than he could have ever wanted in his wildest dreams. And it was his life. He was really the luckiest man in Vegas, even if he never won big time in the casinos.
His family had built itself up gradually. Riley had always been his best friend and little sister, even when they were fighting over her relationship with Greg that ended up being fantastic and producing two beautiful girls just like their parents. Grace had come next, his little girl, his rescue. The one he had fought harder for than he had ever fought for anything in his life. The one that had filled him with emotions he had never felt. And Alix. She was everything. She was his other half, the one he fell head-over-heels for fast. She was the love of his life and the mother of his children. He loved spending time with the people he loved.
He liked nights like these, with the whole family. Gracie was spread eagle on the floor, her nose in a book. Austin was eating, of course. Savannah was painting her nails on the ottoman, a concentrated look on her face that Nick recognized well. Warrick's attention was, as usual, entirely focused on the football game in front of him, asking curious questions every play. Cassie colored on the floor with her new crayons she guarded protectively. Riley and Alix talked in whispers about everything, laughing melodically often. Greg was on the floor, watching the game and answering his nephew's questions. Lourdes was on her new laptop, instant messaging, like she did constantly. McKenna had her headphones in her ears, which was pretty much permanent.
And then there were the people who weren't blood related but he definitely considered family. Grissom sat with his arm around Catherine, Anna on his lap. The family looked very comfortable. Grissom talked to Anna in a voice no one thought the man possessed, answering her questions about everything. The girl was about Cassie's age and so much like her father. Catherine smiled at her husband, her head resting on his shoulder as she, like Nick, took in the scene around them. Lindsey was on the floor, asleep.
Nick smiled proudly, kissing his wife on her cheek. His family was everything to him. His wife, his children, his sister and brother-in-law, his nieces and his best friends were his life. His heart felt like the size of the football arena on the television in front of them.
As he watched his family do the little things they always did, he remembered so many things about them. He felt nauseous remembering Gracie's past, along with the rage that always came up and the gush of emotions that he remembered feeling for the first time. As he looked at Alix he still felt weak-kneed and butterfly-stomached even after all these years of being with his sweet, emotional, perfect wife. Austin and Savannah were special because of how much he had wanted them and because Austin was his oldest son and Savannah was his clone, as Alix always said. Warrick was his curious little boy, but he still felt the sadness remembering the circumstances under which he had been born and named. And there was little Cassie, sweet, sweet Cassie, the baby of the family.
Riley, his loaded pistol of a little sister had a whole plethora of story behind her. Greg had turned into way more than Nick ever would have thought, becoming a family man in his own unexpected way. Lourdes cracked him up, the perfect combo of Greg and Riley: crazy and smart in an amazing way. McKenna was more like Greg than anything, but she trailed after her older sister like Riley trailed after Nick when they were younger.
Everyone knew there had always been something between Grissom and Catherine, and they made a great family. Little Anna Miracle was the last thing anyone would have expected, especially Grissom and Catherine. The Grissom family had everyone's respect and love. Anna had everyone wrapped around her little finger, especially her father, and the change in Gil Grissom was enough to add them to the family and the story worth knowing.
After the Sanders and Grissom families went home and all the kids were settled into bed, Nick lay awake listening to Alix breathe rhythmically, the smile on her face conveying she was having a pleasant dream. He smiled and turned on his side, watching her, and remembering.
A/N: Ah, Nicky. How I love him. And Greggo. And Grillows. And now Riley and Alix. And I love how all the men have gone soft. So this is what happened to give Nick Stokes the family he loves...