Jackson is my original character, but I don't own CSI.

Happy Birthday to my great-niece Olivia!

Thank you again for following and reviewing! Vegas nivel 3, VegasGirl09, csinycastle85, TotalCSIFan, RosePetal7, annemlfe, NickyCatherineStokes2442, FinlayXXStokes, and all who are following, thank you! Hope you like this chapter!

As I said before I'm keeping Nick in Vegas. And this kind of explains D.B. leaving for CSI:Cyber, although I didn't like the way his character changed on that show.

Finn sees more of his CSI family...and someone else? Please read and review!

Before Nick realized it, Julie's memorial service had arrived. Nick honestly dreaded attending, and Finn seemed to know what was happening. He stayed up most of the night crying and just wanting his father to comfort him. Nick's parents helped all they could, but no one could calm baby Finn like his daddy.

The morning of the service, Finn started crying when Nick was in the shower. Jillian fed him his bottle and changed him, but Finn just wanted Nick.

Fresh from the shower and wearing his robe, Nick came in to the bedroom to Finn's wails. "What's the matter, pal?" Nick asked. Nick looked into the crib and hated to see his son so upset. Finn's eyes were closed and he was crying as hard as he could. Nick set his hand on Finn's stomach and the baby calmed slightly.

"I know," Nick whispered as he gently lifted his son. "I know. I'm not looking forward to today either."

Finn's cries subsided as his father held him. It was as if he knew they needed each other.

Jillian and Roger smiled softly when they saw their son comfort his own baby boy. "He just needed his daddy," Roger said.

Nick looked over at his parents and softly smiled. "I need him, too."

Nick and his family arrived at the church, and were greeted by D.B.'s wife Barbara. She gasped softly and smiled when she saw Nick with the baby boy. "Oh, wow."

"Finney...this is your Uncle D.B.'s wife, your Aunt Barbara," Nick explained to the sweet baby boy in his arms.

Barbara couldn't stop smiling at baby Finn. She smiled sadly when she held his little hand. "Out of something so horrible...we get this wonderful gift," she said.

"Yeah," Nick said. They looked up and saw Julie's mother Susan. She nodded to them and smiled, but quickly walked into the church sanctuary. Nick sighed. "She still won't..." he looked at his sleepy baby boy. "My mom knew he was her grandson and wanted to hold him the instant she saw him. Julie's mom barely looked at him."

Barbara patted Nick's arm. "It's still painful...it's painful for all of us."

"But Finney's innocent!" Nick steely whispered. "Yes, it hurts knowing he's never going to know his mother. But he deserves to grow up and be happy."

"I know," Barbara said. "He does. But...some people just grieve differently, I guess."

Nick nodded as he looked at Susan talking to D.B., Brass and Conrad. He couldn't imagine not having Finn, and hoped his maternal grandmother might someday want to know him.

Barbara offered Nick a soft smile before joining her husband and son. Finn started to fuss softly. Greg, Morgan and Sara looked back and saw Nick gently rocking Finn in his arms to calm him down. Greg excused himself and walked over to Nick. He smiled at baby Finn. "He okay?"

Nick shook his head. "I think he knows..." he gestured to the crowd of CSIs, lab techs, and cops who'd gathered to say goodbye to Julie.

Greg gently rubbed Finn's head. "Maybe so. How'd he do his first couple of days at home?"

"Oh, he was fine," Nick said, smiling warmly at his son. "He did just fine, right Finney?" His son looked up at his father and seemed to smile.

The two men smiled at the innocent baby boy. No matter what happened to his mother, Nick and everyone were going to be sure Finn was loved.

"I've got to get back," Greg said. "You coming?"

"Yeah," Nick said, not looking up from his son's face. Greg simply patted his friend's arm and went to join his own family.

Nick's parents left to join everyone. Nick stayed in the foyer of the church, marveling at his and Julie's baby son. No matter what happened between him and Julie, Nick was never going to abandon baby Finn.

He was so engrossed in watching Finn he didn't notice a familiar friend come in until she spoke.

"Nick?"

Nick looked up and smiled when he saw Catherine Willows standing by the door. His lower lip quivered as he smiled down at baby Finn. "Look, Finney...this is your Aunt Catherine."

The former CSI supervisor smiled warmly as she walked closer and saw Nick's son. "Hi," she whispered to the baby.

Nick smiled. "Catherine...I want you to meet Finn Warrick Stokes."

Tears filled Catherine's eyes and a warm smile crossed her face. "That's perfect."

"So is he," Nick insisted.

Catherine smiled sadly at her dear friend. "I heard about what happened on the news. I called Sara...she told me." She smiled at the baby boy who already looked so much like his father. "I am so sorry."

Nick couldn't help the tear that fell down his cheek. "Yeah. I haven't figured out how, but...we'll be okay. Right, Finney?" Finn simply cooed and looked at his father.

"Of course, you will," Catherine said confidently. "And Finn's so lucky to have you for a dad."

Nick sighed deeply and smiled at his friend. "Thank you."

Catherine offered Nick a sympathetic smile. "He's beautiful, Nick. I know...I didn't know Julie as well as you or Sara or Greg and Morgan. But I think she'd want you and Finn to stay together."

"We will," Nick softly insisted. He smiled at the baby boy he loved so much. "We'll be all right."

"I know you will," Catherine said as she rubbed Finn's arm.

Nick and Catherine walked into the sanctuary and greeted their CSI family. Catherine hugged D.B. and Barbara, and said hello to Nick's parents. Jackson hugged Nick and told him about a new drawing he made for the baby boy. "Mama wouldn't let me bring it in," Jackson told Finn. "So it's in the car."

"Well, that's very nice of you," Nick said. "I think Finney is going to love it. Thanks, big guy."

Jackson smiled at the baby. "Uncle Nicky, does Finn miss his mommy?"

Nick smiled sadly. "I think he does...and I know we'll always miss her. But Finney's already so loved. He's got you and your mama and daddy, and Aunt Sara, and all his aunts and uncles at the lab." Nick smiled at his baby son. "And he's got me."

"Yeah," Jackson said with a smile. "We've got the best family."

The minister began the service, but Nick barely paid attention. He was focused on baby Finn. The baby's soft coos and gurgles accented the minister's words on how Julie lived life to the fullest and loved her friends and her work. Occasionally, someone - Nick's parents or CSI family - would look back at baby Finn and smile, knowing he was a small part of Julie that would carry on.

Nick gently rocked his son in his arms. He thought about being angry at Julie for not telling her about baby Finn. But he realized that would be like wishing Finn wasn't there. And Nick already loved his son wholeheartedly. Hating Julie would be like hating him. Nick gently kissed Finn's head as he yawned.

When the service was over, D.B. asked Nick if he thought anymore about the offer to head up the San Diego lab. "Yeah," Nick said. He smiled softly at his baby son. "We're staying here. My son was born here. I met his mother here," Nick said as he choked back tears. "And Finney needs to know about his mommy. No one in San Diego can tell him anything." Nick smiled at his sleepy son, then gave D.B. a small smile. "This is home. We're staying."

D.B. smiled. "Good...because I have a job offer for you here." When Nick narrowed his brow in confusion, D.B. added, "I've been offered a chance to work with the FBI Cyber Crime unit."

Nick's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Yep," D.B. said. "And I think...it's about time you headed the Grave Shift."

Nick sighed in surprise. "Wow." He looked at his now sleeping son. "Whatcha think, Finney? You want to stay here with all your CSI aunts and uncles?"

Finn simply gave his father a small stretch.

Nick and D.B. laughed softly. "I think that's a yes," Nick said. "We're staying here."

TBC...