The Growth of a Family

Pairings: Nick and Sara

This is the sequel of 'Sara Meets the Stokes', "Nick Meets the Sidles', 'Holidays at the Stokes Place' and 'A New Addition'. Nick and Sara are expecting their second child. They prepare their two year old daughter Abigail for her role as a big sister. They also bought and moved into a new house to accommodate their growing family.

A/N: In 'A New Addition', I left subtle clues that Nick and Sara's first child would be a girl. In this story, I will keep you guessing what their second child will be.

Disclaimer: I don't own Nick, Sara or any character in CSI. I only own my original characters

Happy Birthday and a Surprise

"Mommy, where's my cake?" Abigail asked. "I want my cake now! It's my birfday!"

"Abigail Melanie Stokes, your daddy is trying to untie the string on the box," Sara said. "It seems the cashier must have gone to Girl Scout camp and is making good use of her knot tying skills. Besides, Aunt Catherine, Uncle Grissom, Grandpa Jim and Cousins Lindsey and Greg should be here soon."

"Sara, can you get me the scissors!" Nick shouted from the kitchen.

"Nick, I will be right there!" Sara shouted back.

"I'll watch Abigail," Warrick said.

"Thanks, Warrick," Sara smiled and went to the kitchen.

"Oh good, you're here," Nick smirked. "I am getting pissed over this damn knot. I just hope that I didn't ruin her cake. She doesn't like anything messed up"

"Here are the scissors," Sara grinned, saw Nick's expression and grew concerned. "Nick, is there something wrong?"

"When are you going to tell them the good news?" he asked. "You will start showing again in a few months and they will ask us why we didn't tell them sooner."

"Catherine was suspicious when I started having morning sickness again," she said. "She was pushing me to get a pregnancy test. I wanted to go to my doctor and take a test there. She went to Grissom, begged to work on a case with me and he agreed. Then she immediately whisked me away to her Denali. After we collected the evidence and before we returned to the crime lab, she dragged me to one of those 24 hour drugstores to buy a pregnancy test. I took it and I am now about two months pregnant."

"We need to tell Abigail," Nick smirked. "She is going to be a big sister."

"We also have to tell our families," Sara smiled. "No, make that your family since they were more supportive than mine were when I was pregnant with Abigail and after she was born. I don't want to go through the same shit with my parents."

"I think we should call and tell them," Nick said and immediately rued his decision. "On second thought, maybe emailing them would be better. At least they know and it temporarily spares us another major headache."

"I love you, Nick," she smiled.

"I love you, too, Sara," he grinned.

"Let's hope the cake is still intact," Sara said. "She won't eat a slice unless if the cake hadn't been jostled around in the Tahoe."

"Relax, we ordered it a week in advance," Nick smirked. "I told them to freeze it so when I came to pick it up and take it with me, it should be intact. If not, she'll probably hate me forever."

"Nick, she might be mad at you," Sara tried to reason with her husband of three years and five months. "I doubt she'll hate you forever."

"Good, the freezing paid off," Nick smiled. "Our daughter is going to be a happy little camper on her birthday. Sara, could you please get me that candle in the shape of the number 2 in that cabinet?"

"Here it is!" Sara winked. "I hope you aren't going to light it now!"

"No, we're having a pizza lunch first," Nick said. "No, you are not to put chocolate sauce on yours like you did when you were pregnant with Abigail."

"Nicky, I am in my first trimester," Sara insisted. "That's the one where I am sick to my stomach all the time. We had been through that before."

"I'll get it!" Warrick shouted as he heard the doorbell ringing. "Abigail, you stay put! Grissom, Catherine, Lindsey, Matthew and Josie, you are a few minutes early."

"Where's the birthday girl?" Lindsey asked.

"I'm here!" Abigail shrieked.

"Come here, sweetie," Lindsey said reaching out her arms lifted the toddler. "Happy birthday, you are getting to be a big girl."

"Yes, she is, Lindsey," Sara said. "Your half siblings are getting big also."

"Mom and Gil are thinking to add another to the family," Lindsey whispered. "They want to wait until the twins are two and a half years old."

"Your secret is safe with me," Sara whispered back.

"Where are Greg and Brass?" Warrick asked.

"Nick called them and told them to go to CPK," Sara replied. "They have a list of pizzas and salads to order. They should be here in about half an hour."

"I should call them to find out what's going on," Nick appeared.

"Daddy, where's my cake?" Abigail asked and ran to him. "I'm the birfday girl!"

"Princess Abby, 'Cousin Greggo' and 'Grandpa Jim' are bringing pizza and salad," he said as he picked her up.

"I want it now!" she shrieked.

"Sweetie, you have to wait," he said and she started to cry. "Abigail, please don't cry! You can't be sad on your birthday! Your mommy and I won't allow it. We have our friends here to celebrate your second birthday."

"Nick, I think she needs a time out," Sara whispered. "Why don't I take her to her room? I'll stay with her until she cools off."

"Yeah, I'll stay with the guests," Nick whispered. "In a few minutes, I'll call Greg or Brass to find out what's going on with the pizzas."

He handed the two year old over to his wife and they went to Abigail's room. The walls were painted the same way as they were in the Stokes' old apartment, purple with butterflies and an English garden motif. Abigail now slept in a big girl's bed with pink, blue and lilac butterfly printed sheets and guardrails so she didn't fall off. Sara sat Abigail on her bed and sat next to her.

"Abigail, you know that daddy and I both love you," Sara said.

"Mommy, I know," Abigail said.

"We are having a party since today's your birthday," Sara said. "There is cake for everyone, but that has to wait. We have pizza for lunch! Let's play a little game!"

"I love games, mommy!" Abigail smiled.

"Okay, here it goes," Sara said. "If you play by the rules today, daddy and I will read you an extra bedtime story. Can you do that, sweetie?"

Abigail slowly nodded her head and hugged her mother. Sara hugged her back, got up from the bed and picked her up. They left the bedroom and headed towards the living room. Nick saw Sara, got up from the couch and approached her.

"How's Abigail?" Nick asked.

"She's much calmer," Sara replied. "She promised to be a good girl for the party. Did you touch base with Brass and Greg?"

"I did a minute ago," he smiled. "Greg told me that they are on their way. The pizzas are kept warm and the salads cool."

"Good, I hate to eat cold pizza and hot salad," she smirked. "I am sure this little girl would throw it at the wall."

"I don't think she could do that," he smirked.

Abigail went to hang out with Lindsey and the Grissom twins. Greg and Brass finally arrived with the food. As soon as Nick took the salads and pizzas off their hands, Abigail ran to Brass.

"Hey cutie pie, a little birdie told me that it's your birthday," Brass said as he picked her up.

"Grandpa, I'm two today!" Abigail smiled.

"Now that the food is here," Greg said. "Let's eat!"

"Greggo, you have to set the table first," Nick smirked. "You volunteered to do that! Now, get that CSI Level One ass of yours in gear! Once you are done, we shall enjoy lunch and birthday cake!"

Greg immediately went to the kitchen to wash his hands and get the plates, glasses, napkins and silverware. Sara had showed him how she and Nick preferred their table setting a week before the party. Nick went to supervise the former lab rat turned criminalist and gently admonishing the younger man if there was a faux pas committed. When Greg finished with the table, everyone was seated and the salads were brought in to be shared. After the salad course was finished, Nick and Sara served everyone their choice of pizzas while Abigail had pasta with tomato sauce. The lunch was filled with various conversations between the adults and teenager. The Grissom twins and the birthday girl were looking around at the people around. Occasionally, Abigail would contribute something really cute or funny to the conversations.

Nick and Sara excused themselves and went to the kitchen. Catherine and Grissom helped clear off the table and wash, dry and put away the dishes. After that was done, Grissom brought the dessert plates and forks while Catherine made a few trips to bring the coffee cups and spoons. When Sara and Nick were alone in the kitchen, they set up the birthday cake. Nick gave Sara a look that said that they needed to talk.

"What's up, Nick?" Sara asked.

"Sara, when are you going to make the announcement?" he asked.

"I was thinking about doing it while we help Abigail open her presents," she said. "We'll give her the present we bought for her and tell her that in May or June, she'll have a little sister or brother."

"I like it!" he smiled. "Come on! Let's bring the cake to the table before somebody starts a mutiny and we'll have an extra cranky two year old girl to deal with."

Nick was the first to leave the kitchen carrying the cake with the lit candle. Sara followed as everyone started to sing the 'Happy Birthday' song. He placed the cake in front of Abigail's place. When the song ended, she blew the candle, but it was still lit. She had a little help from her parents. Sara removed the blown candle and started to cut the cake. Nick made two or three trips to the kitchen to get some coffee, hot water and an assortment of tea. Once he was settled back in his chair, the cake was eaten, tea or coffee was drunk and there were more conversations, jokes and laughter.

When it came time for Abigail to open her presents, everyone was sitting around the living room while Nick handed her one present at a time. She practically tore through the each wrapped package. The presents ranged from dolls to children's books. When Nick finally gave Abigail the present he and Sara picked out for her, he gave Sara the cue to make her announcement.

"Everyone, I have a little announcement to make," Sara said with deep enthusiasm. "Nick and I are expecting our second child. I am about two months along. He or she is due late May or early June. Abigail, you are going to be a big sister!"

There were expressions of congratulations as well as hugs, kisses and handshakes given to Nick, Sara and Abigail. Two hours later, everyone started to leave the Stokes residence to go to their homes. When Nick and Sara were alone, their daughter approached them and looked at Sara.

"Mommy, where's baby?" Abigail asked.

"She or he is in here," Sara explained as she took Abigail's little hand and put it on her abdomen. "You are going to see my tummy get bigger. Don't worry, your sibling is growing inside me."

"We should look if Desert Palm Hospital is offering sibling training classes," Nick said. "We should consider registering for it as soon as possible. Abigail needs to prepare for her role as big sister. We should get her involved in the pregnancy, so she will look forward to having a little brother or sister."

"Nick, we'll get her prepared for that role," Sara said. "Don't fret."

Abigail yawned and started to protest, but not before kissing her mom's tummy. Nick and Sara thought it was cute that she did that. It was her way to accept her unborn sibling. Seeing that she was tired, Sara picked her up and took her to her room. Nick followed them and helped Sara tuck Abigail in bed. They both kissed her goodnight and she immediately fell asleep. They left the room to deal with cleaning the mess in the living and dining rooms.

"I love you, Nick," Sara said.

"I love you, too, Sara," he replied. "And we both love Abigail and our unborn child."

They went to work cleaning up the mess in the two rooms. Nick threw out the garbage while Sara made several trip from the dining room to the kitchen to bring the plates, cups and utensils to the kitchen sink. Nick helped her with the dishwashing and drying as well as putting a few things away. He cleaned the table and did some light vacuuming around the floors. By the time they were finished, they were both exhausted. They took a short nap before getting ready for shift. Nick's cousin Janine, now a professor at UNLV, would soon arrive to babysit Abigail.

TBC

Post Chapter A/N: Reviews are always appreciated for this and my other stories! Just click on my name and then the story. So remember to tip your waiters/waitress and I will be here whenever I can!