A/N Well what did ya think? See that little button that says REVIEW? I'd love to hear from you!
Ideas, constructive criticism, PM if you have anything else! Again I appreciate any and all and I will do my best to get back to you all! XOXO
A/N Thank you to those who read and reviewed! A BIG thanks to Kayla for being a huge help and support! Also for staying up at night! I will be rating M to be safe from here on out.
Disclaimer: Do not own CSI-if I did, Brass wouldn't have left! :( Enjoy!
CH. 11 The Stars are Bright in Texas
Once formalities were out of the way The Sanders, Nick and Sara all piled into the Tahoe to go grab dinner. "So Nick were are you taking us?" "I have reservations at the Iron Cactus in downtown Dallas. It is a great Mexican food restaurant plus tequila bar. Now I know the girls can't have any, but I figure you and I could celebrate in their honor. Plus we didn't get to celebrate your quickie Warrick like wedding." Nick, Sara, and Greg laughed a sad laughed. Morgan looked confused. "Wait, what is meant by that? I know who Warrick is, y'all talk about him all the time. What is the deal?" Sara turned as much as could in her seat to face Morgan. "Um Well Morgan, after Nick was buried alive, Warrick decided to stop fucking around in life. He was dating this nurse and next thing we all know they were married. It was very rocky because of our long hours, even though she did work long hours herself. He caught her on camera cheating apparently not long after during an investigation. At the time of his death, he was in a custody battle." Sara stops, a sob caught in her throat, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks, looking at Nick he couldn't hold back. Tears were flowing down his cheeks. "Greg and I were the one to get clothes from his apartment, and found the envelopes with the paternity tests, and DVD s." At this Sara couldn't go any further, she broke down. After the showdown with Tina later, and even still keeping tabs on them, it still hurt. That wound was still just as fresh and raw today as it was the day Warrick died in Grissom's arms. Her and Nick always did checks on Eli to make sure Tina was taking proper care of him. She'd resisted at first, but in time has welcomed them in. She even talks of the past, shares stories they didn't know, laughs about the good old days. Sara and Nick look over and smile at each other. Yes their Grayson would know Warrick's Eli.
Greg looked over at Morgan to finish explaining. "They married in one of the gaudy chapels off the strip in her car. No honeymoon. He casually threw it out to us at shift. I can say Catherine was devastated and shocked, we all knew she harbored feelings for him, and I wish they'd acted on them." Greg looked down at his hands then. Morgan reached and pulled him to her. Whispering in his ear,'Hey baby, you've got me. So we had a quickie marriage. We finally get some time off work. I promise we will not have that kind of relationship." "Greg Hojem-Sanders I love you with all my heart. This little life growing inside of me is your child, and l know you will love him or her with your every being. You are my life, this baby has added more to us, and I couldn't be happier." Greg looked down at his blonde beautiful wife, staring at her piercing green eyes. Eyes that had made hardened criminals break. "I love you Morgan Sanders, and you were right The best is yet to come!" The kiss they shared was one filled with promises of what was to come later. Pulling up to valet, Nick sees the young couple making out in the back seat, snickering he nudges Sara to look. Turning she grins before making a coughing sound. "Hey Um guys. We are here to eat food, and Greg I don't think Morgan is on the menu." Sara said with a smirk on her face. All doors were opened by valet, and the women were helped out. Walking in Nick went up to the desk, "Yes party of 4 Stokes." "Oh yes Mr. Stokes right this way."
A few hours later the two couples were back on the Stokes Ranch, and pulling up to Nick's house. Greg and Morgan in complete awe of everything. "Dude! You never told me about this. You are a bawler! Way to go!" Morgan and Sara just rolled their eyes and walked inside. "How are you feeling Morgan? Any sickness?" "You know not really. It seems to have passed. There have been times at some scenes, but I've been feeling so much better. Now the peeing all the time and cravings, those could go away." "Tell me about it. I don't eat meat, well since I started cravings with Grayson here, I want bacon. One day I wanted steak. I refused. He got bacon!" The two women sat on the white couch in the den sharing stories of how the men were acting, both laughing so hard they didn't hear the guys walk in.
"Hey unsociable women, y'all want to sit on the patio? Or take a dip in the pool? I believe its heated a little, and I'll light the fire pit. Greg there is a wooden cooler that is always stocked when I come down with beer. Help yourself. In fact everyone please this is your home. Take advantage!" Nick looked around at everyone smiling. Walking over he kissed Sara on her forehead and pulled her off the couch. Whispering in her ear 'Why don't you change to be more comfortable, and meet us outside beautiful?' 'Yes Sir' Sara walked away with a shimmy in her hips knowing Nick was watching her ass.
Once everyone changed and returned downstairs Nick had lit the custom fire pit, and the neon pool lights were on. Greg and Morgan chose a chaise lounge, with Morgan laying between Greg's legs. Sara took a small lounge that supports her feet more, whereas Nick likes laying on the deck floor with pillows, staring at the stars. "Its a beautiful night tonight." Nick started. Only Greg knew what he was doing tonight. He just hoped the plan worked. Looking up Greg realized what was happening. "Yeah man it is. I think I see the Big Dipper, and I believe this bright light is one of the planets right?" "You would be correct Greggo." Sara informed them. Of course Sara would have a star constellation app. That would be Jupiter you are looking at. Due Southwest you should Uranus." At this Greg and Nick giggled. Sara smirked. "OK boys, what are we five?" "C'mon Sara! You know you want to laugh." Morgan said between giggles. Sara rolled her eyes as she got up to get the guys a couple of beers. Returning she saw a site that stopped her dead in her tracks.
Nick was down on one knee with a very familiar blue box in hand. Sara walked forward feeling as if someone else was moving her body. Morgan rushed forward to take the drinks from her. 'Breathe Sara! You want this. You love him.' Sara smiled. Tears filled her eyes as she glanced down at Nick.
"Sara, we've known each other for fourteen years, we've both seen love, heartbreak many times. We both have been through some of the worst times in our jobs but we survived. It was you keeping me alive, and it was me keeping you alive. I have been in love with you for a very long time. You are giving one of the greatest gifts a woman can give-a child. Except Sara, I need something else.
Sara Sidle, will do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Nick opened the box with shaky hands, tears in his eyes. Behind him Greg and Morgan looked on trying to see the ring, both were crying and happy for their best friends.
Sara stared at Nick, her hands covering her mouth. All at once she rushed him screaming "YES! YES! I WILL MARRY YOU NICKY! OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" Sara's lips collided with Nick's, her tongue pushing into his mouth fighting for space with his. After a few minutes the come up for air. Somehow he'd managed to slip the 2.4 ct three stone with sapphire side stone diamond ring on her left hand. "Oh my Nick. This is beautiful, but expensive." "Hey shh it's ok. I, we, can afford it. But we need to get you a chain for work, DB will not be happy with you going through gloves." They shared another quick kiss, and then Nick helped his fiance up so they could resume their evening. Morgan rushed over to see the ring. "Nick! You out did yourself that is beautiful! I am so happy for you! Do y'all have any idea when you may want to get married?" Nick and Sara looked at each other, and smiled. Sara nodded. "What about this coming week. We'd have to do a three day grace period with the license, we'd love to have you two as the maid of honor and best man? Call the lab see if the sheriff can have swing and days fill in?" Morgan smirked, "Oh I think that can be arranged. I have some pull with the sheriff on that one."
Greg had been very quiet during all this. Taking in all the excitement. He knows their marriage was a quickie Vegas joke, but he never regretted it. He'd been in love with her since he, well, since he spoke to her from LA. He regretted not getting her a real ring like what Sara had, and looking at Morgan, he sees the sadness in her smile. He feels the package in pocket, and walks to his wife. "hey Morgan, there's something stuck in my pocket, can you get it for me?" "Greg, we are with company. Nick and Sara do not want to see that." Both were laughing and sitting together on the chaise watching the two younger CSIs. "Please Morgan!" Sighing she reached in, and pulled out a box. No wait. Not an ordinary box. A Tiffany and Co box. Looking up at Greg with a puzzled look, "Greeg..."
"Hollywood, I love you. I wish you'd had a proper ring when we married. I went ring shopping with Nick in Vegas. It was perfect, and this was the perfect setting to give it to you. It is engraved on the inside with 'The Best Is Yet To Come'". "I love you Morgan Sanders with all my heart."
Tears in her eyes she slipped the ring and kissed her husband. Looking at her ring, it is a 2.3 ct baguette diamonds in an emerald cut three stone platinum.
The couples lounged for a couple hours, with the boys drinking beers, and the mommies-to-be drinking non-alcoholic margaritas, laughing and telling stories from Vegas and LA. Finally Sara asked the million dollar question, "Ok Sanders, spill it. What is the big secret behind yalls eloping? All we know is you went out after work to blow off some steam, and the next thing is you are married." Sara had her eyebrow cocked and her face on that she used for criminals. They were trapped and it was time to let the cat out of the bag.
A/N OK I know you saw the proposal coming! Sooooo please review! I love reading them, lets me know how I'm doing! xoxo
