A/N: Sorry about the delay! One of us was giving semester exams last week and got a little behind.
Thanks for reading and reviewing! Enjoy!
I don't own CSI, Go Dog Go, Click Clack Moo, My Little Pony or the Desert Princess.
October 2015
"Oo, Mommy! You're so pretty!"
Sara grins and leans down to kiss the top of Anna's head. "Thank you, baby."
Grissom looks up from the journal he is reading. His eyes glow as he looks at his wife. He puts the periodical aside and stands to wrap his arms around her. "Gorgeous," he murmurs.
He leans in to kiss her, but Sara leans away. Grissom looks at her in confusion, but she smiles.
"I'm not going to let you smudge my lipstick before we get out the door." She runs her hands down his chest and needlessly straightens his tie. "You look very handsome."
"Well, it's not every night I get a chance to take my beautiful wife out to a fancy restaurant and the theater."
"Can I come?" Anna asks hopefully.
"Not this time," Grissom says, releasing Sara so he can lift Anna into his arms. "You're going to stay here with Uncle Nick, remember?"
Anna nods. "I want to show him my new horses."
"He'll like that," Sara says.
The doorbell rings, and Anna squirms in Grissom's arms.
"I want to let Uncle Nick in!"
Grissom laughs and puts her down; Anna darts for the door with her father on her heels. She pauses and peeks out the window to be sure it is Nick on the doorstep before opening the door.
"Uncle Nick!" she squeals.
"Hi, baby doll," Nick says, tossing her up into the air before settling her in his arms. He walks fully into the house and smiles at Grissom. "Well, don't you look dapper?"
Grissom looks down at the navy blue suit that Sara always says makes her weak in the knees and smiles helplessly. "When Sara wants a fancy night out, I comply."
Nick laughs. "And, I'm here to help."
"Thanks for this, Nick," Sara says, joining them at the door.
"Not a problem," he replies. "Now, let's make sure I'm good on your rules. No snacks after 7:30, and bedtime is 8:30?"
"You've got it," Sara says. "Two stories before bed – let her read one to you, and you read one to her."
"I want to read you Go, Dog, Go," Anna says.
"Okay," Nick agrees. "As long as I get to read you Click, Clack, Moo."
Anna giggles. "Deal. Oh! I want to show you my new horses!"
Nick sets her down; she runs off to get her new toys. He looks at Grissom and Sara. "What is she talking about?"
"Her new My Little Ponies," Sara says. "A gift from Catherine the last time she was here." She smiles. "She has to show the cowboy her horses, right?"
Nick smiles. "I love it." He looks Sara up and down, taking in her little black dress and strappy heels. "And, Mrs. Grissom, I have to say that you look stunning this evening."
Sara smiles. "Thanks, Nicky."
Nick looks at Grissom again. "I still don't know what you did to deserve her."
"Neither do I," Grissom replies, looking at Sara with tender eyes.
Sara grins. "Nick's only brave enough to say that now that you're not his boss."
"True," Nick says with a laugh.
"I never would have fired you, Nick." Grissom glances at his watch. "Sara, we've got to leave if we're going to make our dinner reservations."
"Okay," she agrees. "I just want to say goodbye to Anna first."
As if summoned by her mother's words, Anna runs back into the room clutching her new ponies.
"Look, Uncle Nick!"
"Sweetie, Daddy and I are leaving," Sara says. She leans down to kiss her. "Be good for Uncle Nick, okay?"
"I will."
Grissom takes his turn to give her a hug and kiss. "We'll see you in the morning."
"Bye!"
Grissom and Sara exchange an amused glance at their daughter's lack of concern over their departure. Nick is already sitting down on the floor with her to play with her toys; they know she will barely notice that they have left.
"Quick, while she's distracted," Grissom stage-whispers to Sara.
Sara giggles. "Like she's going to care regardless."
Grissom ushers her out the door. "My dear, we are in for a lovely evening."
Sara grins and reaches up to touch his cheek. "I can't wait."
October 2003
"So, um, do you want a drink, or …?"
"Sure," Grissom agreed.
Sara smiled, relieved to have something normal to do – something that would allow her a moment to process everything that had happened since Grissom had walked through her door. She gently pulled her hand from his and walked toward the kitchen.
"Um, I have milk, water, orange juice, beer …"
"Water is fine," Grissom replied, following her to the kitchen. He leaned on the counter while she pulled glasses from the cabinet and filled them with water from a Brita pitcher from her refrigerator.
"Sorry," she apologized as she handed him his glass.
Grissom frowned. "For what?"
"I don't know … I feel like I should have wine. Isn't that what most women would serve in a situation like this?"
"I don't know," Grissom said honestly. "I'm not concerned about other women, Sara. I'm here because I want to be with you."
Sara's heart warmed and expanded at his words. A glowing smile spread across her face like the sun. "I'm glad," she nearly whispered.
Grissom smiled and touched her cheek briefly. "Can we … sit down?"
"Oh, yeah," Sara said quickly, leading him to the couch.
They sat down next to each other, leaving nearly a foot of space between them. Silence fell as they both sipped at their water and fiddled with their glasses. Sara stared at her coffee table, wondering how they would ever manage to break this silence.
Grissom was the one to do it with a chuckle. Sara's eyes shot up to his face.
"Well, I've made a mess of things, haven't I?"
"No," Sara said empathetically. "No, this is exactly where I want to be."
"Shrouded in awkward silence?" Grissom asked with a wry smile.
Sara shook her head. "No." She put her glass on the table and reached for his hand. "I want to be with you."
Grissom exhaled and smiled. "Sara … we need to talk about this."
She nodded. "I know."
"There are a lot of factors to consider," he continued.
"I know," Sara said again.
"The biggest one is that we work together," Grissom said. "It's … um … against lab policy for members of the same team to date. I think it's even more against policy for a supervisor and subordinate to date. So, if we're going to do this, we need to be … careful, I suppose."
"Griss … are you saying you want to date me?"
Grissom looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "Of course. I don't just walk around kissing every pretty girl I see."
Sara blushed and smiled. "I'm sorry. I feel like I'm three steps behind right now."
"Okay," Grissom said, setting his glass on the table next to Sara's. "Let me back up. Sara, I came here today to make sure you were okay." He exhaled. "In all the years I've been in charge of the unit, I've watched my people go through a lot of suffering with our cases. I've watched them break down at scenes and cry for victims. I've helped them through because they're my team and my friends. But, Sara, you are the first one I've truly wanted to help through that. You are the first one I've needed to see after a case." He took her hand in his. "You are the first one I've wanted to turn to when I needed help."
Tears gathered in Sara's eyes as she clung to Grissom's hand. "Griss?"
"Yes?"
"That kiss you mentioned before … Could I have it now?"
Grissom smiled and leaned in to gently press his lips against hers.
October 2015
Grissom tastes the wine and nods to the waiter. He nods back, and pours Sara's glass before filling Grissom's. He sets the bottle on the table.
"Your salads will be out shortly," he says, then disappears from the table.
Grissom raises his glass and smiles at Sara. "Thank you."
Sara smiles and frowns simultaneously. "For what?"
"For accepting my offer of a date all those years ago."
Sara smiles. "Which time?"
"You know what tonight is."
"Yeah," she says, smiling nostalgically. "I do."
October 2003
Grissom pulled back and smoothed a lock of her hair back from her face. "Listen, Sara … I'd love to keep kissing you, but …"
She sighed. She had been waiting for the but since he had first hugged her. "Yes?"
"This is a huge step," he said. "Like I said before, if we don't keep this between us, our careers are on the line."
"I won't tell anyone," she promised.
"I know you won't. It's just … Sara, we work together unbelievably well. Our team is … exceptional. I'd hate to see that ruined if things don't work out between us."
Sara frowned. "What, exactly, are you trying to say?"
"I'm trying to say that I'd like for us to go on a date," Grissom said. "I want us to try it out before we decide we're going to really date or start a relationship."
"You're asking me on a date?" Sara asked, disbelief apparent on her face.
"Yes," Grissom said. "Would you like to have dinner with me?"
"Of course. When?"
"Tuesday? We're both off that night; we won't have to worry about getting back in time to be at work."
Thrills shot through Sara at the idea of a date with Grissom that extended past the normal start time for their shift. "Perfect."
Time seemed to crawl past until Tuesday. Sara made it through each moment in a sweet agony that reminded her of the anticipation of Christmas for a child. Every time she saw Grissom at work, her heart would flutter. Excitement shot through her each time his eyes met hers. Each smile he gave her made her stomach flip.
Finally, Tuesday evening arrived. After spending far too much time getting ready – Grissom had told her to dress up – Sara felt ready for her date. She studied herself in the mirror, taking in her appearance critically. Burgundy dress, heels, silver jewelry, wavy hair, natural make up … She nodded and smoothed her dress across her stomach.
"You can do this, Sara," she whispered to herself. "You look ready to rock his world."
Giggling, she turned from the mirror in time to hear his knock on her door. She turned back to the mirror to check her hair one last time, then went to answer the door.
Grissom stood on her doorstep wearing a charcoal gray suit and holding a flowering stem. He smiled as his eyes traveled up and down her body.
"You're beautiful," he said.
Sara flushed. "So are you."
"For you," he said, extending the flower.
Sara smiled and took it. "Thank you." She lifted it for an obligatory sniff. "It's lovely," she said, studying the four blossoms that sprang from the single stem. "I need to put it in water."
Grissom nodded and followed her into her apartment. "It's called ixia," he said. He flushed slightly. "It's a symbol of happiness."
Sara finished filling a vase with water and looked at him. She smiled. "I'm happy to be with you tonight, too," she said.
Grissom watched as she trimmed the stem and put it into the vase. "My father was a botanist," he said. "I learned a lot about plants as a child."
"And the bugs that pollinate them, right?"
"I suppose so," he conceded.
Sara finished her task and smiled at him. "Thank you for the flower. And, thank you for planning tonight for us. I'm … I'm really excited about it."
Grissom's eyes met hers, locking with them for a long moment. He finally cleared his throat and broke the eye contact.
"We'd better go," he said.
Sara nodded. "Let me get my purse."
Grissom waited while she got her purse, then held the door for her, closing it securely behind them. He put his hand on the small of her back to guide her to his car. Sara grinned as he opened the passenger door of his vintage Mercedes for her.
"Nice car, Griss," she said appreciatively.
Grissom smiled, flushing slightly. "A teenage dream, fulfilled," he said.
"So, where are you taking me?" Sara asked as Grissom backed out of his parking space.
"Lake Mead," he replied.
"Well, that's specific."
He smiled. "I was hoping to surprise you."
"I'm not very good at waiting."
"So, it won't do me any good to remind you that patience is a virtue?"
"Not really."
Grissom smiled. "We're going on a dinner cruise."
Sara's eyes lit up. "Really? I've always wanted to do that!"
Grissom chanced looking away from the road to meet her eyes. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," Sara said. "I read about it when I first moved here – I got all these books about Vegas so I wouldn't feel so out of touch. It's the Desert Princess, right? The boat?"
"That's right," Grissom said, smiling.
Sara grinned happily. "Sounds great."
The food was delicious, but Sara barely tasted it. She was too busy drinking in the sights of the lake out the window and the man seated across from her. As soon as they finished eating, she jumped out of her seat and grabbed his hand.
"Come on!"
Grissom laughed at her childlike enthusiasm. "Where are we going?"
"I want to go on the deck. I want to see the sights."
Grissom followed her, holding tightly to her hand. He loved the feel of her fingers laced through his.
Sara didn't stop until they were leaning against the rail at the end of the deck. To Grissom's great disappointment, she dropped his hand to put both of hers on the rail. She turned her face into the breeze, closing her eyes and smiling.
"I love this," she said, opening her eyes and turning to look at Grissom. "Thank you so much for bringing me here."
Grissom reached up to cup her cheek, caressing it briefly before sliding his fingers back through her hair. He let the wavy strands slip through fingers, then ran them through it again. Sara smiled at his touch.
"May I kiss you?" he asked.
Sara nodded breathlessly. As his lips landed on hers and his hands found her hips, pulling her closer to him, she knew that she had never had a more perfect evening.
Grissom held her hand as they disembarked. Sometime during their evening, it had become the most natural thing in the world for both of them.
"Thank you for planning this," Sara said again as they stepped back onto solid ground.
"You're welcome," Grissom said. "Do you want to go for a walk?"
Sara nodded, and let him lead her to the lake's sandy shores. She slipped off her shoes and carried them in the hand that wasn't holding Grissom's.
"Since you enjoyed that so much, I was thinking …"
"Yeah?" she prompted.
"Their champagne brunch is supposed to be very good," he said. "Would you like to try that with me sometime?"
"I'd love to," Sara said, giving him a glowing smile.
"So-o," Grissom said slowly, "you'd like to go on a second date with me?"
"Yes," Sara said, tightening her hold on his hand. "Very much."
"Good," he said, exhaling. "I'd like that very much, too."
Sara bit her lip. "Does this mean … What does this mean?"
"For now … it means we're going on a second date."
Sara nodded. She had been hoping for more, but … Baby steps, Sara. You've waited this long. Just enjoy the ride.
"Remember, Sara, we can't talk about this at work," Grissom said. "It'll ruin us professionally."
"I know," she said. "I won't mention it. I promise."
Grissom raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I don't want you to think that I'm ashamed of you," he said. "I'd tell the world … I just don't think anyone would ever believe me. I certainly don't deserve someone like you."
"Shhh," Sara said, squeezing his hand. "You've got it backwards. I don't deserve you."
Grissom looked utterly bewildered. "Sara, you're a young, intelligent, gorgeous woman with a brilliant future ahead of you. How could you not deserve better than an old man like me?"
"A brilliant man at the top of his field and his game who makes me laugh and smile," Sara said. "I'd say that makes you quite a catch."
Grissom blushed. "Thank you," he mumbled.
Sara giggled. "I'm lucky to be here with you right now."
"That makes two of us."
October 2015
"Did you know that night?" Sara asks.
"Know what?"
"Did you know that this was it for us? That in twelve years, we'd still be together? Married? Parents?"
Grissom smiles. "I had no idea," he answers honestly. "All I knew was that I wanted very much to have a romantic relationship with you – and that I was scared to death of it."
"Yeah," Sara says. "That much became apparent later."
"Sara …"
"I'm sorry," she says at once. "I didn't mean to bring up …"
Grissom shakes his head. "Ancient history, right?"
"Very." Sara reaches across to take his hand. "I love you," she says. "I loved you then, and I love you even more now."
"You knew?" Grissom asks. "That night?"
Sara nods, her eyes glowing. "I always knew. I just had to wait for you to figure it out, too."
"I'm sorry I made you wait so long."
She smiles. "I'd do it again. This – our life together … Anna … all that we have now … It is absolutely worth every agonizing moment of the wait."
