AN: Thank you for the review, here is the last chapter.
Chapter 12: The start of her own Sunday Tradition
September 30, 2040
"Ok butterfly, I need to make a some copies then we can leave."
Christine smiled at her dad with a nod. "Alright." Before Grissom walked out of the room so he could head to the teacher's lounge to use the copy machine.
While her mother was having grandma time, she gets to have daddy time. It just so happens he was still dedicated to his job, so this Sunday he had a few papers to grade and assignments to work out at UNLV, but like she did when she was younger, she went to work with him, where she graded her own papers from the 5th graders that she teaches.
She smiled at her accomplishment as she was sticking the papers in the folder, but stopped when she heard a voice behind her that she didn't know.
"Dr. Grissom I..." The 26 year old, 6'0, brown-eyed, short blond-haired, average weight, man stopped speaking when he noticed it wasn't his mentor in his office. "Oh, I'm sorry, you're not Dr. Grissom."
Christine smiled and shook her head as she looked back at him. "Well, technically I am. But I'm sure I'm not the one you wanted to speak to."
He chuckled, then he nodded. "That's right, Christine Grissom; Graduated with honors, went to UCLA, mother at 24 and still managed to get her PhD, but is teaching 5th graders at the grade school."
She raised her eyebrow as she asked with curiosity. "Do I have a biography out there somewhere that I'm not aware of?"
"No, your dad." Then his brown eyes sparked as he finished. "He's very proud of you. He hopes one day you'll take his place here."
Christine stood up, grabbing the folder in the process. "Maybe someday I will, but right now I'm enjoying teaching the younger generation."
"Nothing wrong with that, I'm sure you're the best teacher for them, especially if you are anything like your father."
His kind words and the way he was looking at her made her heart skip a few unexpected beats, and she was actually at a loss with words, which she can't remember the last time that happened. But before she could attempt to use her voice again, he cleared his throat and shook his head before speaking while holding out his right hand. "I'm sorry, where are my manners, I'm..."
Before he could continue, Grissom spoke as he walked into the room. "Kenneth, what are you doing here? You realize it's a Sunday, right?"
Christine smirked at her dad before Kenneth could speak. "The same could be said to you, dad."
He smirked back with his blue eyes sparkling. "Well, when you're a teacher you have to make sacrifices; papers and tests aren't going to get graded on their own, now are they?"
Christine held up her hand in surrender, knowing when to back down. "You're right, you win."
Grissom nodded before turning his attention to his oldest student, which the reason for that was because he had left school a few years ago to help his sick mother, and had just returned this year with her mother's health improving.
"So Mr. Matthews, you came here to get a few questions answered?"
He was going to ask his questions, but then changed his mind a second later. "You know what, I didn't know you would have company with you, so I'll just come in before classes tomorrow."
"You sure?"
He nodded with a smile. "Yeah."
"Ok, have a good day."
"You too, Dr." Then he looked at Christine and gave her a smile. "Nice to meet you in person, Christine."
She smiled back. "It was nice meeting you too, Kenneth."
He nodded one more time before he turned and walked out of the room, while Christine watched him as Grissom walked to his desk, and after he placed his papers in the folder he had marked Monday, he cleared his throat, breaking her from her thoughts, before he spoke. "You ready, butterfly?"
She cleared her throat before turning to look at her father with a smile. "Yeah."
He nodded before grabbing his jacket and briefcase, then after he had it, he walked up to his daughter, who still had a smile on her face, so he asked with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
"I'm just happy to hear that you're very proud of me."
"I've always told you how proud I am of you."
"I know, but to hear that you told someone who isn't family, makes it feel more special in a way."
Grissom nodded in understanding. "I get it."
She smiled bigger before she surprised him with a hug. "I love you dad, and if I never said it before, I'm proud of you too."
"Thank you butterfly."
She stepped back a second later before they walked out of the office so they could enjoy more of their father/daughter day.
October 28, 2040
Even though her and her date was staying in tonight while her daughter was with her grandparents, she did dab on a little make-up and wore something a little nicer than lounge around clothes, but it still didn't stop the butterflies in her stomach.
She couldn't believe that she felt this way because she hadn't felt this way toward a guy in a very long time, and comparing how she felt now and to the father of her child, she was sad to say he had never made her feel like this before. There always had been something there, she couldn't deny that, or else she never would have dated him, let alone get as far as she did with him, but it was nowhere on this level.
Her thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock on the door, so after checking her breath, she walked towards the apartment door, and once she opened it, she smiled. "Hi, Kenneth."
Kenneth smiled back. "Hi."
After meeting in person they couldn't stop thinking about one another, so he finally plucked up the courage and asked her out, and things have been going really good for the past two weeks.
She moved to the side to let him, and once he was, he held out a wine bottle and said. "For dinner."
She smiled as took it from his hands. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
She sets it on the counter before turning to him and asking. "So, what's first, movie or dinner?"
He walked up closer to her and cupped her cheek before whispering. "Well, first I think we forgot something."
She smiled with the butterflies once again flying as they leaned toward one another before their lips finally touched for a sweet, gentle kiss.
When they pulled back, he asked. "How about a movie first."
"Ok, sounds good to me."
When the movie was done, which they had been cuddled on the couch, they headed toward the kitchen, where she started to make dinner with his help, and once it was done they sat at the kitchen table and started eating with small talk.
As dinner was coming to a close, he spoke with a smile after taking a sip of his wine. "Thanks for dinner, it was good."
"You're welcome, but you should take credit too, you helped, so thank you."
"To team work then."
She chuckled as they clinked their half empty glasses before taking another sip, and once he swallowed first, he sets his glass down before asking a question. "So, when do I get to met your daughter?"
She swallowed her drink, then stood up with a smile as she grabbed her plate. "I uh, I think I'm going to get some more."
"Christine..."
She cuts him off, asking. "Do you want some more?"
He stood up from his seat before he walked up to her, speaking softly. "No, but I am wondering why you are avoiding the question. I've noticed this isn't the first time you have."
She cleared her throat as she placed a little more pasta on her plate. "I just don't think it's the right time."
"Ok, but do you know when the right time will be?"
"No, I don't."
Then she started to walk toward the table, but he lightly stopped her when he places his hand on her arm and asked. "Wait a minute, you don't think there will be a time, do you?" They looked into each other's eyes before she looked down at her plate, and he took a breath before continuing. "I know we've only been seeing one another for two weeks, and I don't want to freak you out or anything by admitting this too early, but I don't see this as a passing thing, do you?"
When she didn't answer for several seconds, he removed his hand and started walking toward the table so he could finish his wine. "I guess there is my answer."
But he only got as far as picking up the glass before he heard her speaking softly. "I'm scared, ok, more scared than I've ever been in my life, even more than becoming a single mother at 24." He turned around to look at her with concern as she continued to tell him what was in her heart. "I gave a piece of myself to someone before, and it hurt when he threw back in my face and left, but the thought of it happening again, with you, it terrifies me because it will hurt 10 times more."
He walked up to her whispering. "Christine..."
But she cuts him off with tears in her eyes. "And it also terrifies me on bringing someone new in my little girl's life and they turn around and leave, breaking her heart in the process, and that is something I can't bare to see."
He cupped her cheek and wiped her tears away before speaking with emotion. "I wish I had more than words to prove to you that I'm not going anywhere. Since the day I saw you in your father's office, I can't stop thinking about you, and every time I think about you, I get these butterflies in my stomach."
Christine chuckled with a nod. "Me too."
He smiled with his eyes sparkling. "See, that has to mean something." He took a breath before continuing. "I'm scared too, especially when your dad finds out about us. I mean I'm dating my teacher's daughter, and he can literally kill me and hide me where no one will find me, if that isn't scary, I don't know what is."
She chuckled again before she said with a raised eyebrow. "Well, least you can't say you dated and married your teacher."
"What?" After she gave him a look that meant 'think about it', his eyes get wide as he chuckled. "No way, your dad was your mother's teacher?"
"Ok, it wasn't like it was a real classroom setting, it was a forensic seminar. But yeah, for a brief time my dad was my mom's teacher."
He shook his head, surprised on this information. "Wow, I had no idea." Then he smirked again. "The things you find out while dating your teacher's daughter."
She raised an eyebrow again as she asked. "You're not with me to find out juicy gossip about my family are you?"
He shook his head before speaking in a carrying tone. "No, I'll go to the grave with anything you don't want any outside people knowing. I just want to get to know you and your daughter, and build something that we've both been waiting on for years, and hopefully it will last us a life time."
She sets her plate down on the kitchen counter before wrapping her arms around his neck and asked with caution. "A life time?"
"Yeah, so what do you say? How about taking this scary step together?"
There was a reason her parents were together now, and that was because they took a scary step together and trusted one another that their hearts were safe, and she couldn't imagine turning her back on something that made her feel so strongly.
Now it was her turn to trust her heart that this was going to turn alright for her and her daughter, so with that thought in her head, she nodded with a smile. "Ok, I'm in."
"Awesome."
They kissed softly again before putting their foreheads together and closing their eyes, enjoying this moment together.
Neither one can't predict the future, but as far as they were concerned their connection and love was only going to get stronger.
October 27, 2041
While her parents were in the kitchen cooking a meal for their Sunday family dinner, Christine was sitting on the couch in the living room reading a book, or at least trying to, but she couldn't concentrate because she was having such a wonderful time watching her daughter and Kenneth playing checkers.
Ever since he met her daughter, their relationship had only gotten stronger, and seeing how they interacted together, only made her love him even more because she could tell he enjoyed spending time with her daughter, and not something that was an obligation just because they were dating.
Her thoughts get interrupted and she smiled bigger when she heard Maddie laugh as Kenneth was ticking her with a smile while he was teasing her about winning.
Things started to calm down a second later when Sara and Grissom walked into the room to announce dinner was ready, but before they could head toward the kitchen, Kenneth spoke once he got his breath back. "Uh, before we fix our plates for dinner, I would like to ask you all something."
They all looked at him with curiosity while his heart was racing since this was the most nerve-wracking thing he's ever done in his life, and he's made more speeches in front of teachers and students than he can count.
He cleared his throat as he walked up to Sara and Grissom. "Dr. Grissom, Mrs. Grissom, you two have raised an amazing woman, and I can't tell you how lucky I feel whenever she's with me, she makes my life feel complete." Then he turned and looked down at Maddie, who was standing in front of her mother with a smile, making him smile back as he finished. "And so does this little girl." The little girl's smile gets bigger as she looked down before he turned his head toward Sara and Grissom again. "And it would mean the world to me if I can marry your daughter."
Christine and Sara gasped while Grissom just stood there, but before he could speak, Kenneth turned around and took a step forward before kneeling down so he was eye-level with the little girl while he smiled again at her. "Maddie. there is nothing I wouldn't do for you or mother, and I hope you'll give me your blessing to spend the rest of my life with you two."
Maddie smiled again as she asked. "Can I be the flower girl?"
They all chuckled before he winked at her and whispered softly. "I'll see what I can do, I've got connections."
She giggled as Kenneth stood up so he was now looking at the woman he loved, who was practically in a puddle right now, then he cupped her cheek and continued with love in his eyes. "And Christine, all I want to do for you is love you and make you happy for the rest of our lives, so please do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife."
She sniffled as more tears came down her cheeks while he continued to wipe them away, but before she could speak, Grissom did after clearing his throat. "It took a lot of guts for you to ask like this."
Kenneth removed his hand from her cheek before turning around so he could look at his mentor with a nod. "Yes sir, anything short of a 100% here is pretty heartbreaking. One of the most heartbreaking scores I'll ever receive in my life if it doesn't work out."
That got a little smile out of them, and he would have smiled too, but he was still very nervous, and only got worse when Grissom stepped up to him, which he was the one taller than the older man, but he felt small when he was looking right at that intimidating look, something he hadn't really noticed until he started dating his daughter.
"My daughter and granddaughter are the light of my life, outside of my wife, and thinking about them getting hurt by anybody is unacceptable, you understand?"
Knowing what he could do to him, he understood completely, so he nodded. "Yes, sir." Then he got a little more confident as he continued. "But you know me, I don't do anything less than 100%, and that's exactly what I'm going to do when it comes to my life with your daughter and granddaughter."
There was one more pause before Grissom finally held out his hand with a smile on his face. "And that's why I have no problem on giving you my 25% approval."
Kenneth smiled brightly, knowing exactly what he meant by that, as he shook the older man's hand. "Thank you, I won't let you down."
Grissom nodded as they released hands. "I hope not, son."
Kenneth then took a breath while looking at Sara, and Sara, who had a few tears too, smiled with a nod. "You now have 50%"
Instead of a handshake, Kenneth walked up to her and gave her a hug. "Thank you Mrs. Grissom."
Sara chuckled as she gave the young man a hug. "You're welcome, but I guess you can start calling me Sara now."
"I would love to."
After they get out of the hug, Kenneth turned his attention to the youngest member and kneeled down in front of her again, which it looked like she was thinking about something before she asked. "Isn't 75% next?"
They chuckled at that, leave it to her to think about math when there was a very important question in the air, then Kenneth cupped her cheek with a smile. "It sure is, sweetie."
She smiled with her eyes sparkling. "Then that's what you have now." Then she took a step closer to the man that she liked very much and hugged him, hoping her mother will say yes to him.
While in his arms, he whispered. "Thank you." Then he smirked, but was very serious. "And I'm still working on that flower girl gig."
Maddie just giggled again as they pulled back before nodding her head, then he stood back up and looked at Christine, waiting for the most important 25% of his life, which he didn't have to wait much longer because she cupped his cheek with a smile and nodded. "You better add this one to your collection of other 100%'s because my answer is yes, I'll marry you."
His eyes lit up even more right before they kissed, making her family clap for them, then when they pulled back, they wrapped their arms around one another for a hug as they whispered their loves yous to one another.
When they pulled back from one another, Kenneth, Christine and Maddie headed toward the kitchen while Christine told Maddie that she would be honored if she was the flower girl, which made the little girl happy, and she only got happier and started laughing when Kenneth tried ticking her again but she was too quick for him this time and ran toward the kitchen.
Sara and Grissom watched them until they were out of the room, then they looked at one another with their eyes sparkling as she spoke. "Well, all we wanted for her was to be happy and find love from a good man."
He nodded as he wrapped his arms around her. "And I don't think I could have picked a better one for her. Although, I still wish I didn't have to witness them making out on my front porch."
The first time Christine brought Kenneth to her parents house so it could be revealed on who was making her so happy, Grissom got a surprise when he opened the door and saw his student kissing his daughter. But after the embarrassing moment passed, and especially after witnessing how he was with her and his granddaughter, Grissom approved of them by the end of the night.
Sara chuckled with a nod as she cupped his cheek, then he took a breath and placed his hand on top of hers before speaking with a smile/smirk. "And I will say this too, I don't think it will take her much time to agree that Sundays are her favorite day of the week too."
Her eyes sparkled back before kissing him softly on the lips, and once they pulled back she whispered. "I love you."
"And I love you. Let's go eat."
She nodded with a smile, and after one more kiss, they headed toward the kitchen hand in hand to join the rest of their family, happy their daughter will have the life she had always wanted, and while things may have not gone exactly how she had planned, like them, they knew she wouldn't trade away a second she had shared with her daughter, and neither will they because their unexpected gift made their lives more complete than they ever thought possible.
AN: That's it, I hope you liked it. Please review.
Thank you all for the continued support, I've enjoyed writing this piece and I hope you'll come back when I post a new one soon.
But until then, enjoy the other one I'm finishing up, and always remember GSR4ever!
