The foursome enjoyed the rest of the evening together, first over dinner and then simply chatting in Gillian's room at the hotel. The girls agreed to meet in the morning for a shopping spree, for which Gil was glad that he had not been invited along. He would meet them later for a late lunch, a visit to a couple more museums and then dinner. Gillian was leaving early the day after, so they wanted to pack as much into her last day as possible.
Back at Catherine's, Lindsey said good night, giving her mother a hug. Then she shyly approached Gil. "Good night, Dad," she said as she hugged him too. Gil held her an instant longer than necessary before letting her escape to her room. Catherine watched her daughter, who was smiling, head upstairs. Then she turned to GiIl, "Okay, what did you do to my daughter?"
Confused, Gil gave her the 'what, me?' look of innocence. "I think she was upset because she thought that somehow having Gillian around would make me love her less. I just told her the truth; I've always wished she were my daughter and that I've loved her from the moment she was born."
"You did? You have?" Catherine asked, surprised.
"She's a part of you, Catherine. How could I not love her? Anyway, she asked if she could call me Dad and I said I'd like that." He shrugged.
"She gave me a hug, something I don't often get from her...and she's smiling. And you act as if it's no big deal. Amazing!"
Gil listened to her, amused. "I'll tell you what I think is amazing, Cath. You are. And I'd like to take you to your bed now and show you just how amazing I think you are." His expression had changed to a lusty one.
"You're on, Bugman." She turned and he followed her up the stairs, taking in his favorite view...her lovely, cativating tush.
"I know where your eyes are," she giggled to him over her shoulder.
"Just keep moving," he replied."I love it when you move like that."
The next morning, Catherine and Lindsey were out early. Gil was left in peace to read his journals and have a little 'Gil time' as Catherine had called it. He loved his new family; loved being surrounded by them. But he needed some time to himself too. This was all so new to him and he wasn't used to having people around him all the time. He enjoyed the quiet.
Later they met at the Canyon Ranch Cafe. The ladies had just finished touring the Grand Canal Shoppes. Once lunch had been consumed, they headed to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, where Picasso's Ceramics were on display. While they were there, Gil insisted they go to the Conservatory. Then they went to see the fountains. As they stood and watched the water show, Catherine watched her two daughters. They were so different but she also saw some similarities. Gil, watching her, gently put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. "You make beautiful children, Cath...inside and out."
With tears in her eyes she looked up at him. "They are beautiful, aren't they?"
"Just like their mother."
They decided on dinner at the House of Blues, where they enjoyed the music as much as the food. Gillian seemed to be enjoying their company, as well as seeing Vegas. Lindsey was warming to her sister. And Catherine was in awe of the whole chain of events that led them here. As for Gil, he was bowled over. In a few short days, he'd gone from lost and bewildered to a man who had everything; a beautiful wife and two lovely daughters and a future filled with promise.
The next morning, they all went to the airport with Gillian. Gil and Catherine invited her to come back anytime and pleaded with her to stay in touch. Lindsey gave Gillian her e-mail address so that they could communicate also. Gillian thanked them for welcoming her and thanked Gil for his insight into her hearing situation. She assured him that she would follow up with her doctor and look into the surgery. Catherine, Gil, and Lindsey stood and watched as Gillian made her way through the security gate and disappeared into the crowd.
On the drive home, Gil spoke to his little family unit. "Okay, ladies...I think we have some serious discussions ahead of us. One is about where we'll live. Also, Mrs. Grissom, he smiled at her, you and I need to decide how we're going to tell our CSI family that Mama Bear and Papa Bear finally got married. Ane do we want to share Gillian with them yet? And Lindsey, we need to talk about this whole 'Dad' thing and what I expect that means and what you think it means. So, we'll order pizza and have a family conference today." Gil was proud of his 'Father Knows Best' leadership style.
Lindsey rolled her eyes in the back seat. Catherine sat with her jaw agape. "Where did that come from?" she asked finally.
"What?"
"The whole 'large and in charge macho man' thing...not to mention the 'family conference."
"Too much?" He looked sheepish.
Catherine started laughing. "Well...coming from Gil Grissom...it's just kind of shocking. But I love a strong man."
Gil made a pouty face and came back with, "but I thought you said you love me."
She swatted his arm and laughed again. "You look like Gil but, give it up...where'd you hide him?"
"That's the thing...he's been in hiding for years." He glanced toward her, his eyes giving away his feelings. "But you brought him out into the light...you and Lindsey."
Lindsey smirked but inside she was smiling. Catherine stared at him in silence, falling even more in love with her man of mystery.
Much pizza was consumed at the family conference. It was decided that Gil's townhouse would go on the market immediately. The equity from that sale would be used as downpayment on a house that they would build. They would continue to live in the Willows house until their house was complete. The equity from the sale of Catherine's house would go toward Lindsey's college fund.
Lindsey told Gil that being her Dad meant that he had to be really cool. He was expected to let her do all the cool stuff, not tell her what to do, and like any boys she chose to date. Gil shared with Lindsey his views on fatherhood. He was to watch out for what was best for her, not necessarily what she wanted but what she needed. He would check out any boys that came around and if they were not found to be worthy of her, they would be thrown out. And as for him being really cool... "Well Lindsey, I am what I am and no one has ever called me cool."
"Okay," she moaned. "But can I tell my friends at school about you guys getting married and that I have a new Dad...and about Gillian?"
The parents looked at each other. "Sure," Catherine said.
After that, Lindsey headed to her room. She didn't care what they told the CSIs. She had news for her friends and planned to be on the phone and online all afternoon.
"So, when do well tell the others?" Catherine asked.
"We go back to work tomorrow night," he replied. "Although I'm sure they are already wondering what's going on. Sara can't have been totally quiet on our breakup and me taking off and then you taking off for the same period of time...that has to have them asking questions."
"Yeah...I wonder if Sara guessed it?"
"Probably, but I don't think she would have said anything."
"None of them can have guessed about Gillian though."
"No. I think...well, as long as we're telling them about us...shouldn't we go ahead and tell them about her? I don't want it to be a big thing when she comes back. At least not like that."
"Yeah...let's just get it all out at once."
"Why don't I call and invite them all to dinner before the shift? Brass and Sofia too? We can tell them then, in a more casual way, I mean."
"Good idea. Where will we go?"
"The ususal place...it just seems right to have our CSI family conference at the diner."
Catherine nodded her agreement and Gil started making calls. Within an hour he had them all agreeing to meet tomorrow night, except Sara. He had saved her call for last. Catherine had sat with him but as he began to dial her number, she quietly moved to the other room. He needed to have this conversation in private.
"Sidle"
"Sara, it's Grissom." His voice sounded flat.
"Yeah...caller ID, remember?"
"Oh...yeah. Are you okay?"
"Ah...sure." She sounded angry.
"Um...well, I'm calling ...well, a lot has been happening these past few days...and well, there's some news I need to share with the team."
"Like we split and you're with Catherine now?" He could hear her tears.
"Um..well...I thought you would have told them about our...br...about you moving out."
"Sort of...I told them we needed some space."
"But you said...you told me... you kicked me out of my own house while you packed to leave..."
"Yeah...well..."
"Look...it's done.I really didn't call to rehash..."
"Amazing."
"What?"
"You've already moved on. Did I mean so little?"
"No...Sara...look, you were a breath of Spring to me. But..."
"Not 'the one.'
"If you'll remember, you were the one that told me that."
"Yeah...smart me."
"Look Sara, the team is meeting at the diner tomorrow night before the shift. I have some news to share. If you are interested, please be there."
"Yeah...sure..." Her voice sounded tight, as if she were struggling to speak.
"And Sara...I'm sorry...really sorry that I hurt you. It was never my intention."
"Yeah, well you know what they say about the road to hell, don't you?" Her bitterness came through to him, loud and clear.
"I'm sorry...I don't know what else to say...I'm sorry.
Her end of the line went dead. He sat quietly for a minute. Catherine came back in. Walking up behind him, she wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on the back of his shoulders. They stayed like that until he spoke, "I really screwed up with her."
"Gil, she pursued you relentlessly. We were all taking bets on how long it would take her to snag you. Where you screwed up was twenty years ago, and you're doing your best to make up for that now. Remember me? Don't look back, no regrets? You said you envied that once. Try to take it to heart. We've both done the best we could and finally it's coming together. Don't go second guessing that now."
He turned to her and hugged her tightly. A tear had found it's way down his cheek. "I'm not second guessing. I know that being here with you is right, for all of us. I just wish she hadn't been hurt."
"Yeah...I know." She held onto him and then suggested, "let's go up to our room. No funny stuff, just snuggle time. I think we both could use a little snuggle time right now."
"You sure...no funny stuff?"
"Well, we'll see. But snuggling is definatly first on the list."
Smiling he took her hand and led her upstairs.
PureJoyPureJoyPureJoy
I',m kind of enjoying putting htis together. It is lighter than so many things I've written but it has Gil and Catherine right where I want them. I hope you are enjoying too. Please leave a review and tell me what you think.
