A/N: another chapter-let us hear from you and another chapter will arrive quickly!

Christmas Needs Love to be Christmas

Chapter 4

Laughter for Boys and Girls

For a night when only a third of the employees were working, the parking lot in front of the building was nearly full. Sara counted eight police cars, noticed Greg had parked near the door, and saw Grissom's SUV several spaces away.

Janet seemed to read her mind. "I'll help get the kids to your place after they see Santa. Looks like little Anderson Cooper has already passed out—can you believe a woman would name her child after a famous person. Might as well name him Elvis or Michael Jackson." She laughed. "You in shock yet?"

Softly, Sara laughed. "I'm scheduled to work tonight—planned a late afternoon Christmas dinner. Going to cook a turkey for the meat eaters—I haven't done that in years." Her hand twisted her wedding ring and she laughed again, glanced at Janet and continued. "I got these crazy singing panties at one of those lingerie shops so…" nervously, Sara laughed. "I'm not believing I'm saying this to you, but Gil loves a surprise like that—he never wants a real gift, says I'm his gift—so I—you know—make things different. And now we're taking three little kids home with us. Are we crazy?"

The tiny silver bells jingled as Janet's arm stretched to Sara's. "Honey, it's good to take care of your man. It shows you two love each other very much and three kids have to sleep! And if Gil likes those singing panties, keep wearing them!" She chuckled with such obvious delight that Sara had to smile.

"I can't believe I just told you that!"

"How long have we known each other? It's about time you let me in on a little secret about Dr. Gil Grissom!" Janet laughed. "After all this excitement, these girls are going to sleep well once they are tucked in bed—you can count on that. Don't know if that turkey will get cooked—not with those musical panties you've got, but we'll let these children sleep another night before they have to know about their mother."

"It's not fair, is it? Darcy will be the only one who remembers her."

Janet shook her head and then pointed. "Look—we have a welcoming committee heading this way."

Sara looked at the front door of the lab. A dozen people where waving—half of them were supposed to have the night off—D.B. and his wife and at least two of his kids, David Phillip's wife, several lab techs, a couple of deputies, policemen, and Greg. Brass pulled in beside them and waved.

Janet turned to the two girls. "I think we're going to find Santa visiting some friends of ours! Are you two ready?"

Sara turned in time to see Darcy comb her hair with her fingers. Jane was trying to look out of the window and Andy was sound asleep. Brass knocked on the door before opening it.

In an excited voice, he said "I heard Santa is in the building, girls! Are you ready?"

"Yes! Yes!" Darcy whispered, wiggling as Brass unbuckled her from the seat. Jane nodded her head so furiously her chin seemed to quiver.

Sara and Brass each took one of the girls; Janet brought up the rear with Andy in a carrier.

In seconds, they were inside and everyone was talking in hushed voices. Darcy shook everyone's hand and talked; Jane clung to Sara as if she were drowning, never saying a word. Every time Sara tried to ask or say something, someone interrupted and the group moved further into the building. She heard Santa was "drinking some coffee and taking a break" but he had presents for the two girls and some things for baby Andy.

The break room door was open and Sara realized the Christmas tree from the lobby had been moved into the room and sitting next to the tinsel covered tree was a perfect Santa, looking even better than the Santa Sara had left hours earlier.

He waved at Darcy. "Darcy—come over here and let's see what I can find for you!" He started digging inside a large red sack beside him. He waved again before the little girl moved toward him.

Jane did not release her hold on Sara, but in three seconds, Darcy was talking to Santa as if she had met a long-lost friend. A doll was pulled out of his bag and Santa pointed to Sara while he talked to Darcy. She took the doll and ran to her sister.

"Come on, Jane. It's Santa!"

Santa had another doll for Darcy and kept pulling things from the sack until Sara did think a miracle had occurred—she looked around to find a dozen faces smiling and watching. She wasn't sure if they were smiling because of Darcy's delightful personality or because they were seeing a different Gil Grissom. Sara laughed softly—he was extremely realistic in his Santa role as he held up a yellow duck and asked Darcy if she thought it belonged to Andy; the child agreed it was a baby toy and her brother would love it.

Jane remained firmly attached to Sara even as her sister brought other toys to her, placing a puzzle, a tea set, and Lego building blocks on the table. What finally got her on the floor was a monster bowling set Santa pulled from his bag. She squirmed, stuffed her doll in Sara's arm, and said: "Down," very plainly.

Darcy had climbed onto Santa's left leg and by the time the third monster bowling 'pin' was out of the box, Jane was at his right knee. As they played and talked to Santa, Sara leaned to D.B. and asked:

"Where did the toys come from? And the tree was moved!"

"Miracles, Sara, miracles," he whispered. "Once Brass called, we got busy—these guys found toys for little girls and brought them in. Then Santa did the rest!" He pointed to the baby, still sleeping. "And I hear you're taking them home—congratulations on becoming a parent."

"It's temporary until we find their family."

His head nodded toward Greg. "Take them home and Greg and I will help Janet with a relative search."

"Anything on the car that hit their mother?"

D.B. shook his head. "Doc Robbins will be in later. But the car was white or silver or tan—pick a color of the week. It was a Honda or Kia or Cadillac—according to witnesses. We're looking for that too." He watched the girls for a few minutes. "Take them home with their new toys—they'll be asleep before you get there." He laughed, "And I think Santa has a tight schedule for the rest of the night!"

Janet tapped Sara's shoulder. "Got a crib being delivered to your address. It's portable—comes with directions—push the bottom down and it sets itself up."

A few minutes later, Santa gave a very jolly "ho-ho-ho", hugged both girls, telling them to be good, explaining he had more toys to deliver, and managed to slip out of the room as the two were chasing a ball around the break room as Greg gave a lesson about indoor soccer. Janet talked quietly to Grissom for a few minutes before he left. And a while later, while Sara read a new book to the girls, gifts were gathered and carried to Janet's van.

Unperturbed by all the commotion around him, Andy slept. By the time the two girls were buckled into car seats, both were yawning; ten minutes later, a doll fell from Darcy's hand.

"What happens now?"

Janet's quiet response was a stark contrast to her usual laugh. "I've stopped predicting, Sara. We will do all we can to find relatives—may take a week, may be tomorrow."

They made one stop for diapers and formula at a convenience story with "the highest prices in town" Janet complained, "but you got to have this stuff." She placed the bag between them. "You're ready, honey, for your first night as a parent!"

A clean-shaven Grissom met them in the driveway. "It was faster and easier to shave everything than remove that glue" he explained as both women asked about his beard.

The social worker stayed long enough to help tuck the girls into twin beds. She showed them how to set up the crib, then helped move it into the office after Sara voiced an objection to its placement in the second bedroom.

"I might not hear him," she said.

"How about the office?" Grissom said and moved the crib to the space near their bed.

Hank followed every step made from the time they put the girls to bed. He nosed the covers of the beds; he smelled the infant carrier while Sara held Andy and then turned to sniff the baby from toe to head. Puzzled, the dog tilted his head to one side, watched the sleeping baby for a few minutes, and then walked to his basket of toys. He retrieved a ball from his toys and dropped it at Sara's feet.

Surprised, Janet said "That's good—Hank appears to accept the newcomer."

Grissom chuckled, "Yeah, wait until Darcy wakes up!"

Early on Christmas day, well before the sun brought a ray of light to the city, Grissom and Sara finally crawled into bed. As silence folded around the couple, both straining to hear breathing sounds of three small children on the intercom, sleep did not come easily.

Eventually, Sara said, "I can't sleep yet."

"Neither can I."

"What do we do now?"

His soft laugh floated warmly around her neck. "We can talk—quietly." He kissed her below her ear. "We'll have pancakes when everyone wakes up."

Sara sighed. "I'm already attached—what will it be like when we have to return them to a parent or relative?"

Grissom's hands circled her waist and her shoulder; pulling her against his chest. "If we can not attach we would not be good parents. We'll be sad to see them go, but happy they are going home."

Sara had buried her face into his soft shirt. "What if—what if there is no one?"

"Simple—we keep them."

"Three! We were hoping for one—maybe two."

"Three's a good number." His hand found the small of her back, fingertips pressed her tightly against him.

Sara lifted her face to his and kissed him; her eyes closed as the kiss strengthened, grew, and became something more than the reassurance she sought. Suddenly, desire swept through her. Everything in her body wanted to be embraced by the passion she knew she would find from her husband. When she touched him, she heard a low, hungry groan deep in his chest. The knowledge she had such an effect on him made her feel as if she were some priceless possession.

His mouth closed over hers causing a glorious, exciting sensation as she felt the tip of his tongue touch her bottom lip. Her entire body reacted; her breasts arched against his chest, her hips pushed against his, her hands touched his hair. He reacted immediately, crowding against her until she was pressed between the bed sheet and his aroused body.

When his hand tightened and caressed her butt, a simple pleasure rushed through her and a delicious tension began to build deep inside. He shifted his body again; his hand left her face and found her breast and he used his thumb to circle her nipple.

"You are beautiful, my dear Sara."

When they kissed, her pulse raced, causing wave after wave of tiny shivers to pulse through her; her fingertips against his skin caused a visible shudder. When she kissed him again, she left his mouth and moved along his neck to his shoulder. He made a sound of half groan and half laugh as he seized the bed covers and tossed them to one side. With both hands, he slid her pants to her knees; she managed to kick them away before his hands returned to her hips.

She closed her eyes and moaned as his hands caressed, his fingers touched her in the most intimate of way possible; gently, smoothing, and setting off a wonderful aching sensation that sent shivery bliss from her thighs to her brain, shot back to the center of her desire where she twisted against him, seeking more.

His lips were against her ear saying "Yes" again and again before she turned her face to his and began to kiss him urging him on. His knee separated her thighs and she was aware of his erection probing the damp, throbbing entrance of her body. As he eased himself into her, her body seemed to pull him inside until he filled her completely. For a full minute, they remained together, neither moving as he caught her head between his palms and kissed her with such enthusiasm Sara actually heard their teeth clink as they touched.

And then he rocked against her, driving himself even deeper, moving faster; the muscles of his back were rigid bands beneath her palms. In a very short time, thoughts left her brain; her breathe quickened. Her hips lifted and joined in the rhythm of his strokes letting the grip of passion move her into unconscious actions.

Grissom sensed her impending climax before she did. Her body arched, her muscles trembled in succeeding waves until she seemed to burst like a rain cloud. A moment later, she softened, but he was in the midst of his own explosion, swallowing her satisfied moan as he collapsed across her, one leg over her thigh, his arm curved possessively around her.

They lay quietly for a time, Grissom holding Sara very close. "We could move to a larger place—all the bedrooms near so we can hear them," he said. "We can take them hiking and get good books for them to read. Show them butterflies and beetles—maybe a few spiders."

Sara realized in a very short time, he had developed the same attachment and the thought of having a life of small details had affected him in the same way. A change, she thought, a welcome addition to their life.

She whispered, "Yeah, that would be fun." Her thumb found his chin, smooth and taut after his recent shave. She snuggled, freeing the force grip he had on her ribs, and moved her leg over his. "I love this—what we do—but I forgot your second Christmas present."

A deep chest chuckle bubbled and broke from his mouth. "We'll do this again with the present." His arm tightened around her again.

She attempted to stifle a yawn and nuzzled her head against the curve of his neck and shoulder. "I think I can sleep now."

A/N: Got them home and there's still time for a bit of GSR! We'd love to post the next chapter soon, so it's your turn to r-e-v-i-e-w! Thanks so much!