Blue Fire

Future

Nick was trying to help Catherine finish stepping up for his birthday party but every time he tried she would tell him to stop. She rented a room at the Rampart because it wasn't just about Nick's birthday, they were also going to tell the team they were engaged and that Nick was Lindsay's real father and other new things. So it was reasonable that Catherine was a bundle of antsy nerves.

"I think it's good now," Catherine said standing in front of Nick.

"I think it's perfect," he said putting his arm around.

"Are you sure? I mean I could always..."

"Cath, its fine." Nick said interrupting her and hugging her.

"I just want this party to be perfect,"

"I don't care if five people come or five hundred,"

"Five hundred people better not show up we won't have enough food," Catherine says looking at the food putting her hand on her hip, raising an eyebrow to

Nick.

"You smart ass,"

"Oh yea..." Catherine said giving Nick a kiss.

"Yeah..." Nick whispered back, kissing her. The love between was felt by everyone in the room, which consisted of Catherine's mom, and the staff. And none besides Catherine's mom knew them but could feel the love they shared.

"Gross," Lindsay added.

"It's going to be fine." Nick whispered against her head knowing that she was nervous.

"It's going to be weird to tell everything, especially now!" Catherine said as tears started to ease down her face.

"It's going be okay."

Soon after the party started Catherine's nerves went into overdrive. Nick was commingling with guests and Catherine was running room like a chicken with her head cut off. Nick knew from past experiences that trying to calm her down would only further agitate her anxiety but if she got too out of hand he would do something. Nick was just as nervous as Catherine but he didn't show. They both had millions of thoughts running through their head. Thoughts about previous decisions and actions and new decisions they were finally taking big steps forward. They went from sneaking around to getting married and creating a life for themselves.

"Cake time!" Catherine yelled. Nick sat in his designated chair and pulled Catherine on his lap as she lit the candles. As his friends and family circled around the table.

"Happy birthday to you!" everyone sang. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Nicky! Happy birthday to you!" Catherine gave Nick a kiss on the cheek as he blew out candles. After everyone had gotten there pieces of cake Catherine joined Nick on the couch.

"Man, the frosting doesn't smell good." Catherine said frustrated, Nick looked confused at her.

"What?" Nick said as Catherine shook her head. Nick went to sniff the frosting and Catherine hit the cake into his face. The room went quiet as Nick's face was covered in frosting. Catherine broke out into a hard laugh setting her cake down as tears filled her eyes. Nick put his piece of cake on the table in front of them and licked his lips.

"Nicky..." Catherine said breathless from laughing. He smiled at her as others started to laugh. He quickly mounted her rubbing his face on hers and her neck. Until they both fell into a laughing mess.

After presents were exchanged Catherine stopped people as they were trying to leave.

"Wait, I have one more gift." she said handing Nick the photo album she had prepared.

"Ah, the photo album." Nick said rubbing his hands together. Catherine watched as Nick's face lit up as he opened the album.

The first photo was one that they had taken at the DNA conference with a young Nick and a younger Catherine.

"Where did you get these?" Nick asked looking at the couple photos she had from

The event. As everyone else looked on in awe.

"I've had them hidden in some old photo albums." she said. He turned the page And saw photos from the annual barbecues, and baseball games. Each one was with Catherine and Nick. They had always drifted together in events like that. Nick stopped and laughed when he saw the photo of when Catherine was writing Nicky on the back of his shirt in the dugout as he gave the camera a thumbs up with a big goofy smile.

"wow," Nick said pleasantly surprised, he continued to flip through the pages. Seeing photos from their secret dates. He laughs seeing a picture of him and Greg at a conference where he slept throughout the whole lecture. As Nick slept, Greg posed over him giving a thumbs up and Catherine snapped the photo.

"This is your photo ID on my phone." Greg said bringing up the same photo.

"This is like seven years old," Nick chuckled.

"I know." Greg said shrugging his shoulders.

Nick turned the page and saw his personal favorite photo of them together. They were at a picnic with Lindsay, she was about 11 or 12 at the time, and Nick had given Catherine a daisy. She and Lindsay both have a huge smile on their faces and Nick was giving Catherine a kiss on the cheek.

"This is my favorite photo of us," Nick said looking at Catherine and Lindsay. There were more photos of their secret dates, anniversaries, family reunions, and other birthday parties. Nick shut the photo album and gave Catherine a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, darling."

"You're welcome, Nicky."

"I didn't realize how serious you guys' were..." Sara said, but Catherine and Nick knew others felt the same too.

"Family meeting," Catherine said sitting next to Nick, setting the photo album aside. Everyone stood around confused. "We decided that we need to come clean about a whole... mess load of stuff. There's a lot that went on and that is going on that you do not know about, so we feel it's only fair to let you in."

"Are you pregnant, Catherine?" Greg asked, Nick raised an eyebrow at him and shook his head.

"No Greg,"

"Okay." Greg said relieved Nick shook his head at him and Greg shrugged his shoulders.

"We kept our relationship secret to protect ourselves not to hurt any of you." Catherine said trying to find out where to beginning. "First thing is first, Nick is Lindsay's biological father." Catherine said getting a mix of emotions from her friends. Some didn't look surprised while others looked utterly shocked.

"There's more," Nick added. "Cath and I have been together on and off for almost 10 years."

"We engaged and would love to have you all come to the wedding." Catherine said showing everyone her ring.

"And last but certainly not least. Do you wanna tell them?" Nick said his expression changing from happiness and confidence to worried; Catherine shook her head and wiped her eyes yet again.

"What's going on?" Sara asked.

"Catherine was offered a job with the FBI out in DC... And she accepted it."

Nick said looking at Catherine with a great sense of pride for her, he draped his arm around her and gave her a tight squeeze. The team looked confused. "I too was offered a job with the DC crime lab, and I accepted." Nick said taking a deep breath. "Catherine will be leaving in two days and I'm going to leave at the end of next month."

"You guys are leaving?" Sara said.

"Yes," Nick said.

"It's not that we are leaving you guys because of something you did... I need to move on and expand. You guys are the best of the best. The best criminalists. The best techs. The best team. The best overall people and I have been blessed to have ever been able to work with you." Catherine said getting choked up.

"As am I." Nick said picking up right where she had left off.

"You are going, too?" Morgan asked.

"Yes. I got to go; I don't want Cath to get lost." Nick kidded, earning a smile from Catherine. "But our wedding will be here."

"Make sure you send us invites." DB said.

"We will." Nick said most definitely.

"Good luck," Greg said and them everyone else did, making Catherine and Nick fell more confident in their decision.

After the party Nick started to drink and Catherine brought Morgan somewhere to give her a king Kong on coke speech, Nick didn't know. Before Nick knew he was just about fall down drunk sitting at the bar as everyone else picked up.

Catherine was still in the casino just a different part. Nick was resting his head on the bar singing happy birthday to his beer bottle. Then Lou sat next to him at the bar. He didn't remember seeing him at the party before then, and he was just about certain Catherine didn't invite him. Nick tried to sober up the best he could with a gazillion thoughts running through his head.

"Hey Lou,"

"Hey Nick,"

"Err, what's up?"

"I heard you and Catherine are moving to DC."

"Yeah, she got a new job."

"Just take care of her."

"I do." Nick said Lou nodded and left just as fast as he came. Nick was slightly flabbergasted about what had just happened. "Linds, you ready?" Nick asked still just shocked.

"You're not driving." Catherine's mom, Lillian said.

"No, no Ms. Flynn, Lindsay you want to drive my truck?" Nick said tossing his keys to her.