Disclaimer: We, sadly, don't own anything.

Spoilers: General all season spoilers.

Soo…one day gipsy and doomcherries decided that writing a joint fic would be awesome. The basis of the story is gipsy's idea, doomcherries is just along for the ride. ;)

MAJOR thanks to ardvari for the wonderful beta.

Part Three of Four

We thank you for your patience with this chapter. Despite RL, we managed to churn this sucker out quite quickly. :)

"What are you doing? You know, you should sweep me off my feet out yonder window and down a rope onto your valiant steed. "

-Princess Fiona from Shrek

"Now did Sarafina invite Gilberto to her castle?" Lucy asked, peering up at her father.

Grissom glanced down at his daughter and hoped she couldn't see the blush creeping up his cheeks. "No, not yet. Sarafina and Gilberto were still learning how to be friends."

Lucy's tiny face scrunched up in confusion. "They're not friends?"

"Well…yes. But Gilberto hadn't always been nice to Sarafina, so she was afraid he was still a mean old ogre. It's hard work being friend with an ogre, Lucy."

Hugging her bear tighter, she leaned closer to her dad and Grissom wrapped a protective arm around her tiny figure. "At least Gilberto was trying," she said sleepily.

"Yes, Gilberto was trying." He kissed the top of her head. "Did you know Gilberto almost lost Mo—Sarafina?"

She shook her head of curls, "Did a monster try and steal her?"

"Yes, a very bad monster. But don't worry, Sarafina was okay and the monster was taken away."

"Kinda like when Lord Farquad wanted Fiona for his'self?"

Grissom nodded, even though he couldn't remember who Farquad was. "Yeah. Kind of like that."

Lucy looked up, "Did Gilberto make her dinner after she was almost stolen?"

He laughed to himself. Lucy, my little matchmaker. Soon, she'll give Catherine a run for her money. "No, not exactly."

"Well, what did he do?"

"My little Lucy, why are you becoming frustrated?" he asked, trying not to laugh at his daughter's annoyed tone.

"Well, Gilberto's being such…such a dweeb!"

This time Grissom did laugh. "Oh?"

"He should just have made her dinner! Shrek made Fiona rats for dinner!"

He hugged Lucy, "Oh, honey, somehow I don't think Sarafina would eat rats. But Gilberto did visit her at her castle after the encounter with the monster. Would you like to hear about that?"

"Yes," she said, nodding enthusiastically.

For what seemed like hours, Grissom contemplated leaving his car and actually going up to her door. But he just sat there, watching her window for any sign of movements. Looking down at his hands, he realized he was gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were white.

Releasing his grip, he sighed.

He could have lost her tonight. Visions of Adam Trent's hands on her flashed before his eyes and he could still feel his blood boil at the thought.

Looking up, he saw her silhouette through the drawn curtains and he felt his breath hitch in his throat. Before he even knew what he was doing, he was out of his car and walking towards her apartment. When he reached her door, he stared at it for a few minutes and glanced backwards. 'It's too late to turn back now, Gil'

He knocked twice and quickly shoved his hands into his pockets. When she opened the door, he blew out a sigh of relief. There she stood, clad in her robe, hair pulled back and feet adorned with bunny slippers.

"Grissom? What are you doing here?" Sara asked, hugging herself.

He blinked. "I don't know."

She laughed. Oh, did he love her laugh. "Well, I guess I should appreciate your honesty."

She moved aside and allowed him to enter. Shutting the door, Sara watched him watch her cautiously. Under his intense gaze, she shifted uncomfortably.

"He cut you," Grissom said softly, staring at the small red line on her neck.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not, Sara. He could have really hurt you. I," he looked down at his feet, "I could have lost you."

Sara looked up at him and swallowed hard. "I'm not yours to lose."

"You could be," he whispered. Stepping closer, he wrapped his arms around her frame and felt her tense slightly before she completely relaxed. Inhaling the clean scent of her hair, he pressed a small kiss to her shoulder.

Hearing the choked sob against his ear and feeling the push of her hands on his chest, he backed up. She batted at her tear-lined eyes, hoping he didn't notice.

"Grissom, why now?" she asked, her voice rough.

Brushing past him as she walked into the kitchen, Sara braced herself on the kitchen counter, her back to him. "Why not sooner? I've given you plenty of opportunities."

She laughed, but no contempt could be found in her tone. Letting out a shaky sigh, she turned slowly to face him, her gaze locking with his.

"I've always wanted you," Grissom admitted, taking a small step towards her. "I wanted you from the minute I met you, and I want you now. But when it comes to you, Sara" he took another step closer, "I…I can't seem to think rationally."

They were inches apart and Sara could feel the hair on the back of her neck rise. "Tonight just reminded me how much I need you."

"You need me?"

In response to her question, Grissom merely nodded. "Always."

Her shoulders visibly slumped, "You know how long I've waited for this?"

Grissom shook his head.

"A long time. But sometimes I can't help but think this is out of pity." She saw him wincing at her words but she carried on. "You have to see it from my point of view. We recently just got our friendship back after I told you about my family and now…now, you're offering me more than that. And I want it, Grissom, I do. But I can't afford to get hurt anymore."

Bringing his hand to her face, Grissom gently cupped her cheek and Sara's eyes fluttered shut at his touch. When she licked her lips, he felt his self-control snap and he finally gave in to the burning need to kiss her.

A shiver shot down her spine when his lips touched hers, and she gave a little gasp into his mouth. His lips were soft and molded perfectly to hers. If there was such a thing as perfection, this was it.

He pulled back and rested his forehead against hers. His voice was soft as he spoke. "I'm sorry about th—"

She cut him off with another kiss. "Had to," she smiled.

He traced her bottom lip with his thumb, not quite believing what was happening. "What now?"

"Now?" She brought him in a hug and inhaled deeply. "Now we have dinner."

"Yeah. Yeah, okay." He could feel her smiling against his shoulder. "Dinner."

"Gilberto and Sarafina are together now?"

"Well, yes and no," Grissom said, kissing the top of her curls.

Lucy sighed. "Why not?"

"Sometimes falling in love isn't easy, Lucy," Grissom shifted until he was completely lying down and Lucy followed, resting her head near her father's. "Gilberto was an ogre and had never loved anyone before and Sarafina was a beautiful princess and was afraid the ogre would hurt her feelings. They both had to learn to trust each other."

"Oh." Her little brow furrowed in thought. "Why are grown-ups so weird?"

Grissom laughed. "I don't know Lucy. It's one of Life's greatest mysteries."

The little girl sighed dramatically. "So when did they know they were together for real?"

Grissom shrugged. "It just happened one day…"

He looked past his daughter, lost in the memory of that fateful Sunday. He didn't remember all the details of how and why it happened, or who said what to whom.

But he did remember the first brush of his hand across her breast. The first time he placed a kiss in the hollow of her throat. The first time he touched her most sensitive flesh. The first time she called him Gil.

They never discussed it but to him that was when he just knew.

Sara woke up to a warm body curled up firmly against hers. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, it took her only a brief moment to realize whose body it was. Looking at Grissom's peaceful features while he slept, she felt a wave of newfound serenity wash over her.

This wasn't as complicated and messy as she'd imagined it would be. It was so simple. So scarily simple that it made her wonder why they had waited so long. But she wouldn't open that can of worm, not now, not ever.

This was It. It with a capital I.

She could have spent hours rationalizing to herself the "why" behind their getting together but it didn't matter. She knew that Nick's tragic ordeal had only precipitated the inevitable. They might have danced around each other for a while longer but eventually they would have ended in the same place. They both knew it was just a matter of time.

Grissom stirred slightly under the gentle caress of her hand on his cheek and when he opened his eyes and saw the disheveled woman in front of him it dawned on him that he might still be dreaming. He reached for her, wanting to make sure she was real and rested his hand at the apex of her thigh. He never knew skin could be this soft.

Her smile almost stretched off her face. "Morning Gil."

The husky whisper made his heart jump (among other things) and he couldn't remember ever seeing such beauty. She was all grin, freckles and milky skin and he was hers, completely. Infatuated couldn't begin to describe how he felt about her; life began and would end with Sara. It wasn't a revelation as much as an acknowledgement.

"I love you."

Her smile grew wider as her hand grew bolder. "Show me."

And he did.

Lucy's voice snapped him out of his reverie. "So they had a sleepover?"

Grissom was sure his face was now scarlet. "Sure. A sleepover, yes of course."

"Did they watch movies and play games?"

"Games…yes." Grissom struggled to regain his composure. He risked an eye at the clock; surely his daughter would be sound asleep soon so he could go play "games" with Sara. "In fact, I'm pretty sure they played Chess."

"Mommy says she always beats you at Chess."

"That's because Daddy always lets Mommy win." He winked at Lucy, bringing a heartfelt giggle out of her. "But you can't tell her, she gets upset when she loses."

"I won't." The little girl brought a finger to her lips as she whispered. "I promise."