I am going to start this by apologizing to several of you who responded to chapter one, in my summary I should have named the couples. As I have found out there are several of you out there that do not agree that these particular people go together. I am sorry if I offended any of you in any way.

Chapter 2

Gil had e mailed all the information to H and Mac, after going over it they each called a family meeting.

"We have an idea for our vacation," Natalia said to her children.

"Uncle Gil and Aunt Sara have found a ranch near Vegas," Horatio continued, "There will be horses and fishing and swimming."

"Along with a campout and canoeing," Natalia added.

"Alright!" yelled Charlie, "Is there an area to play ball?"

"We will check with Uncle Gil," his father said.

"I wanta go," Maggie said, hugging her mother, "Please."

Natalia laughed, "Daddy and I will be talking to Uncle Gil on Sunday, we will tell him you both want to go."

In New York a very similar family meeting took place with the same results, it was more then obvious that all six children were excited about the idea of spending their summer vacation on a ranch.

During their Sunday computer conference call a date was decided and Gil told everyone that he would see to the arrangements.

"We do want the campout?" he questioned.

"Yes," Stella said.

Sara giggled, "You did read the part that said you get to the campsite by horseback?"

"That's the one part Mac is not to sure about," Stella said with a hint of a chuckle in her voice.

"Not many chances to ride horses here in New York," Mac said.

Gil laughed, "I'll make sure you get a nice gentle one." "I'll e-mail all of you a list of things that are recommended to bring with you," Gil added.

Horatio smiled, "I hope that list includes a pillow for my backside. I hear horseback riding can be hard on that part of the anatomy."

Gil laughed, "That was not the part of my anatomy that get jarred."

Both the men crossed their legs and groaned, Sara smiled. "I kissed it and made it all better."

"MMM, did she ever," Gil said, smiling.

"TMI," Stella said.

Everyone laughed.

"Oh," Natalie said, "Charlie wants to make sure that we can play ball."

"Yes," Gil said, "There is an area for that too. That boy and his baseball, I think he may be a major leaguer one day."

"The kids do know that there is no television?" Sara asked.

"We told them," Mac said, "And they don't seen to care."

"Same here," Horatio said.

"You know us ladies will have to go shopping," Stella said, smiling.

That is why they all agreed to meet in Vegas two days before they left for the ranch.

"Great," Gil said, "We will see you all then."

After the others signed off Gil went back to the web site and forwarded more information to the others.

"I'll have to get you a few pairs of jeans," Sara said. Gil grunted. "And some western shirts and boots," she went on.

"And a hat to I would suppose," Gil said.

Sara smiled, "Oh, I hadn't thought about that, maybe I will."

Gil pulled her into his arms, "Don't even think about it, Mrs. Grissom. I love my straw hat and THAT is what I intend to wear."

Sara kissed him, "Yes Mr. Grissom."

Gil kissed her again, from the doorway they could hear a laugh. "Hello Butterfly," Gil said.

"How did you know it was me?" Amy asked.

Gil picked up his daughter and kissed the tip of her nose, "Because you always giggle when Mommy and I kiss and your brother always says YUCK."

Amy hugged her daddy's neck, "I love you Daddy."

"I love you two Butterfly," he said.

"YUCK!" came a voice from the other room.

Sara walked up behind him and hugged her son, then she kissed his cheek.

"YUCK!" he said again, "Kisses are yucky."

Amy looked at her father, "Do you kiss Mommy cause you love her too?"

Gil smiled, "Yes."

"Love is yucky too," Jimmy said. Then he looked at his mother, "Well except love from Mommy and Daddy."

Jimmy ran out the door and Any picked up her book.

Gil walked over to Sara and but his arms around her waist, "It's funny, I used to think the same thing until a beautiful brown eyed brunette came into my life."

Sara stroked his cheek, "The best day of my life."

"Daddy! Daddy!," Jimmy yelled from the front yard, "You have to see this, hurry."

Gil kissed Sara's forehead and headed for the door, "A new bug I would guess."

Sara smiled, "Just like his father."

In New York Mac was sitting on the sofa reading a book when Audrey came in and stood in front of him not saying anything - just staring. After a bit Mac looked over the top of his book, "Yes?"

Audrey just stood there, her eyes fixed on her father. "May I help you with something?" he asked.

Still the child did not move. Mac noticed a picture in her hand. "Who is that?" he asked.

Audrey looked at him, "You tell me. I was looking at some of the old pictures in the box and found you hugging a woman."

"Your mother," Mac said.

"No," she answered, a tear forming in her eye.

Mac and Stella had decided to wait until she was older to tell her about Claire, Mac decided that now was the time.

Mac reached for his daughter, "I have something to tell you, please sit with me."

Audrey sat next to him, Mac took the picture. He was not sure how to word what needed to be said, he pulled in a deep breath.

Stella walked in the room, "It is time for bed."

Mac handed Stella the picture, "Not yet."

Stella touched his shoulder and sat next to him.

"Well?" Audrey asked.

"I was married once before," Mac started.

Audrey looked at her mother, "You knew?" Stella nodded.

Mac choked back a tear, "You have heard about what happened here in New York on September 11?"

Audrey nodded, "Everyone knows."

"She was killed that day," Mac said.

Audrey hugged her father, "This is her?"

"Yes," he said.

"What was her name?" Audrey asked.

"Claire," Stella said.

"Like me?" she asked.

"We gave you Claire in memory of her," Stella said.

Audrey hugged her father, "Thank you." Kissing her parents good night Audrey went to bed, just a little prouder of her name.