Enjoy! Last chapter up later today!

Facing the Past Chapter 7

…By the time sunlight brighten the bed, Sara and Grissom could hear the whispers and padding feet of children. Sara's hands searched the bed.

"Where are my panties, Romeo?" She whispered. Grissom chuckled as he joined her search. How many times had they performed this blind search, he thought.

"Here," he said, and managed to slip the lime green silk over her ankles with almost as much ease as he had in removing them. He felt her quick intake of breath as his hands slowed and his fingers moved gently against her intimate cleft as a soft giggle came from her lips.

"Five children awake and waiting, Gilbert," she said as he kissed her.

He chuckled. "I know, I know—just a reminder."

He pulled on his shirt and found his pants near the bed. "Stay—I'll check on everyone and breakfast should be here soon." He knew room service was a bargain compared to getting everyone dressed and downstairs to eat.

Sara grinned as she watched him leave the room—sexy butt, she thought; she stretched and yawned as she heard the high voices greet their dad. Alone for a few minutes, more memories filled her thoughts. She had never planned to have a child, and had been surprised at the maternal feelings she had when Bizzy was born. She had been even more surprised at her husband's reaction to the birth of his daughter. Instinct or pride had triggered responses neither imagined. When Eli came, both knew it was right that Warrick Brown's child should become their son.

Loud giggles quieted as Sara watched the door ease open and two blonde curly heads appeared. She waved a hand and two blurred bodies flew across the room.

"Daddy said you were sleeping."

"But we knew you wouldn't sleep." They wiggled and squirmed to carve a space on either side of their mother.

The girls were identical to a casual observer, but she knew they were alike only in obvious ways—stout little legs, blue eyes, and pale brown hair that changed to blonde in the sun. They were alike in their love of all things girly—ribbons, bows, flashy bracelets, painted fingernails, and dresses. Sara knew all this feminine behavior had to be a throw-back to some past generation.

Ava was always smiling—almost always. Her quick temper had gotten her in trouble in the past as it would in the future, but she was quick to forgive and forget. Her sister, Annie, was more thoughtful, slower to speak and to smile with a mouth that was quick to turn downward, and her emotions were more often hidden than shown.

Now, they babbled, finishing sentences of the other, asking questions without waiting for an answer, content to share a few minutes snuggled in bed with their mother.

Bizzy appeared in the doorway, saying "Dad says to let Mom sleep," but when she saw her mother, she joined them in bed, giggling with her sisters.

Breakfast of eggs, potatoes, muffins and fruit, cereals, milk and juice arrived under dome covers and attentions of children quickly shifted to exploring the novelty of room service food.

"Eat something, Sara," Grissom pushed a muffin in her direction. She played with it, breaking it into pieces, placing a few bites in her mouth.

The children were happily eating, unwrapping heavy silverware, discovering packets and small jars of jams and honey that arrived with room service in hotels everywhere.

Standing, Grissom took Sara's hand. "Children, eat, share, be good," he said. "Your mother and I need to plan our day." He winked as he led Sara into the bedroom and closed the door. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. It had been many years since he had seen her this way.

"I'll be fine, Gil, I will. I'm so worried about Eli—what will happen—what she will say. I don't want him hurt, Gil." She had closed her hand into a fist against his chest.

"I know, Honey, I know." He held her until she relaxed and opened her fist. "Get dressed. I'll get everyone moving. As soon as we meet Tina, you take the girls—do some girl shopping. I'll keep Will with me."

"Don't leave Eli," she said. "If she wants to talk with him, you have to be there. He's my son. I don't want him left alone." She had said this several times before today.

"I won't—promise. Eli has us, his brother and sisters. He will be fine."

"I love you."

Sara had always believed in "less is more" and her philosophy extended to her children—blue shirts and jeans for three, simple sundresses for two. These two flew around the room as pastel butterflies looking for hair ribbons and clips while Bizzy, Will, and Eli waited patiently, playing a handheld game as their sisters received last minute smoothing of their Grissom hair.

Sara and Grissom smiled as they surveyed the five individuals in front of them. Very early in Bizzy's life, Sara had become a gentle, disciplinary parent—Grissom would let them get away with anything—most of the time. Today, there was no need to explain expected behavior—even Will knew what to do.

Grissom spoke first, a prideful boast, "We have handsome boys and beautiful girls, Sara."

"Yes, we do," she said as her fingers touched a curl, grazed a cheek or a forehead before Grissom opened the door.

A/N: One more chapter to finish up!