Chapter thirteen the cat is out of the bag

The wedding had been a beautiful service, Greg and Carrie looked so happy. Grissom had walked with me down the aisle and we had kept our eyes on each other the whole time Greg and Carrie were reciting their vows. I could almost imagine Grissom and me up there hand in hand reciting our own vows and completing our family. I knew that it was just a dream but it was nice while it lasted. Everyone gathered together and threw rice on Greg and Carrie as they walked their way to the limousine next was the reception. It was at the Luxor again and I was more nervous than I had ever been.

I hurried and greeted my mother and Max and Maddy before anyone saw us and I ushered them into the car. I wanted to get to the reception before any questions could be asked. It gave me a moment to compose myself before revealing the true identity of my beautiful children.

We reached the Luxor I parked the car in the parking garage and I took the children's hands and walked with them quietly towards the elevator. "Momma is it going to be a party like our birthday? Max asked." "Kind of we are going to eat a small dinner and do a little dancing, how does that sound Max?" "It sounds great momma I am so excited." "Me too Momma I can't wait to Dance! Squealed Maddy." My mom just rolled her eyes and we both laughed at how funny the kids could be sometimes.

We reached the dining room in no time and sat down to await the crowd. Catherine and her date came in first and sat down next to us. "Hey Sara, it looks like you made it just in time. "So who are these little cuties?"

"Well Catherine this is Max and this is Maddy my son and daughter."

"Wow Sara, I didn't know you were mom congratulations, so how old are they?"

"They are two almost three oh and by the way this is my mother Laura Sidle."

"Pleased to meet you Laura, you must be very proud of Sara they are such beautiful children."

"Yes I am Catherine; it is nice to meet you to by the way."

"Sara can we talk in private please?" Catherine grabbed my arm and whisked me off to the ladies room before I even had a chance to respond. Great I knew it just one look and the whole world would know that I had been hiding Gilbert Grissom's children away from him.

"Sara, you don't think I am stupid do you?"

"What do you mean Catherine I don't understand?"

"Don't you play dumb with me Sara; those kids are Grissom's aren't they?"

"Catherine, it is none of your business those kids are mine and that is all you need to know."

"Sara, all you have to do is look at them to tell they are yours and his I mean Maddy looks exactly like him."

"I am not blind Sara and neither is he."

"Look, Catherine they were a complete surprise I didn't know I was pregnant when he left me. I was going to tell him then Greg called and said that he was shacked up with Heather and I just couldn't face him it was too much at the time."

"So are you going to tell him tonight because if you don't he will find out one way or another." "Sara, if you don't tell him then I will."

"Catherine just calms down I planned on telling him tonight that is why I brought them. Do you really think I would be stupid enough not to tell him?"

"I don't know Sara; you haven't been honest with him so far."

"He hasn't been honest with me either Catherine, he told me to move on so I did." "I didn't want him to stay with me out of pity."

"Look Sara, I am sorry I know that I don't have any right to judge you. For all I know I might have done the same thing if I were in your shoes." "But please Sara for everyone's sake just tell him ok."

"Alright Catherine I will calm down ok."

We walked back to the table I am glad that Catherine at least didn't yell at me in front of everyone else. I wanted to tell Grissom but I wanted to do it alone. I didn't want everyone else to hear what I needed to say to him it was just too much. Then Nick walked up with Mandy "Hey Sara, who are these cuties?"

"Well Nick meet my son Max and my daughter Maddy they are two years old."

"Well congratulations Sara, I always knew that you would make a great mom." "So did anyone tell you they look just like Grissom?"

"Yes they do look like Grissom considering he is their father."

"Sara, is that why you left him so suddenly two years ago?"

"Yes Nick, he doesn't know yet and yes I am going to tell him so please close your mouth and just go along with it ok."

"Whatever Sara, it is your business not mine." "Hey have a great night Cupcake and don't let Grissom ruin your evening ok?"

"I won't Nick thank you for understanding."

"Anytime Sara anytime."

Nick and Mandy walked off and sat down at another table. That is one thing that I loved about Nick he tries not to stick his nose in other people's business unless he felt the need to. I still hadn't seen Grissom but by this time I didn't know if I wanted to. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. The constant banter of the room seemed very pleasant so far it was the perfect evening. Just then Grissom entered the room with Heather by his side. He seemed totally oblivious to me. I decided that he was going to have to make the first move I was tired of putting myself out and getting hurt.

The dancing started and again Jim and I danced a few he also learned of the twins and told me how happy he was for me. It seemed like maybe everything was going to end very nicely until I again had that familiar feeling and looked up to see two dark blue eyes looking into mine.

"Hello Sara, how are you tonight?" "You look beautiful by the way."

"Thank you Grissom I am doing fine how about you?"

"Well Sara, I am having a very nice evening it is nice to get to see Greg happy again." "So who are the two little ones?" Of course he would have to ask that question right at the end of the night.

"Well Grissom this is Maxwell Gilbert Grissom and this is Madalyn Marie Grissom they are my son and daughter."

"Your son and daughter?, it sounds like they are mine too Sara." "Would you mind telling me when all of this happened?" Now he just sounded completely angry I could tell that he was trying to hold it in in front of the children. So I calmly grabbed him by the hand and led him out of the room into the hallway.

"SARA HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!" "HOW COULD YOU KEEP MY CHILDREN AWAY FROM ME FOR ALL OF THIS TIME!!" Now the angry Grissom had come out and I was completely petrified. I had never in my whole life heard him yell like that. I knew he would be angry but I never figured he would be this upset.

"Grissom please calm down, I was going to tell you and then Greg told me that you had moved on with Heather and I didn't want you to be with me out of pity." "I am doing fine on my own Gil, I have done a good job raising them I don't need you and I don't expect any money."

"SARA THAT IS NOT THE POINT!! THOSE ARE MY CHILDREN TOO I HAVE A RIGHT TO RAISE THEM ALSO!" "HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL SARA KNOWING THAT I HAVE MISSED TWO YEARS OF THEIR LIVES?"

"Grissom please lower your voice, I don't need the whole world to hear our conversation."

"Fine Sara, I will lower my voice but we created those children together you and me and I am not letting you get away with this façade any longer!"

"So what do you want me to do Grissom do you want me to just hand them over to you after two years raising them."

"No, Sara, I don't expect you to give them to me but they have a right to know that I am their father and that I love them very much."

"How can you love someone you don't even know Gil?"

"Sara, how can you even say that? They are just as much a part of me as they are of you." "Maddy looks just like me Sara did you think that I was too stupid not to notice?"

"No Grissom, I brought them with me because I wanted you to notice."

"I have been so lonely without you I want you to be a part of their lives."

"I don't just want to be a part of their lives Sara I want to be a part of yours also."

"Gil, you have Heather you don't need me you cannot have it both ways."

"So you just expect me to go on the same way like nothing has changed?" "You want me just to pretend that none of this every happened?"

"Gil, you didn't even know they existed until tonight why does it matter to you so much?" "You can see them whenever you want I will not stop you." "As long as they are living with me you are free to come and go as you like."

"Sara you live in San Francisco remember? That is almost seven hundred miles away." "When am I going to get the time to see them with my schedule the way it is."

"I don't know Gil, but I am not moving here just to suit your fancy." "Our whole life is back in San Francisco and that is where we are going to stay."

I turned and ran away from him as fast as I could go. I knew that he would want me to stay but I couldn't not with him being with Heather it was too much. So I grabbed the children at first they were afraid and started to ask me what I was doing. My mom grabbed their hands and led the way out of the room before a fight could happen. I led them out to the hallway where Grissom stood. "Max, Maddy this is your Daddy his name is Gilbert Grissom."

"Hi Daddy, I have waited so wong to see you I wook like you don't I, said Maddy in a small voice." Grissom bent down and took the little girl in his arms and held her tight like he was afraid she was going to vanish. Tears started coming out of his eyes onto his cheeks. I had never seen Grissom this emotional not even when Warrick had died.

"Oh Maddy, I have been waiting to meet you also, you are so pretty." "I can't believe how big you have gotten you look as pretty as a butterfly." "I love you butterfly."

"I wuv you too Daddy, I have missed you so much, Maddy said."

"Max look how big you are, you are so handsome and tall I bet you take good care of your mommy don't you? Grissom said."

"Yes Daddy I take good care of mommy and Grandma too." "Daddy, why are you crying? Max replied."

"Oh Max, I am just crying because I am so happy to finally meet you."

"Me too Daddy, I have missed you a lot said Max."

Grissom picked up the two small children and held them close they talked for a long time. He even played hide and go seek with them in the elevators. Soon it was time for us to go back to the hotel. It had been a long night for all of us. "Well guys, I hate to spoil the fun but we really have to be going, Sara said." "Momma do we have to go?" "Can't Daddy come with us Max asked?"

"No Max Daddy has to get back to Heather but he can come by later this week and visit ok?"

"Okay Momma, I will miss you Daddy Max replied."

"I will miss you too Max, and you also Butterfly said Grissom."

"Bye Grissom, Sara said."

"Goodbye Sara, We will be talking soon don't run off just yet, Grissom replied."

"I won't Grissom take care."

I picked up the two sleepy kids and then Grabbed Christopher Greg's son in his car seat and headed out to the car. The kids seemed to like Grissom a lot. I always knew that he would be a good father I just never expected it to happen like this. By the time we got to the car all three children were sound asleep and I drove off into the peaceful night. When we got back to the hotel my mother helped me put the twins and Christopher to bed then she headed off to sleep also.

I was still so amazed at seeing the kids with Grissom. It was funny how kids never cease to amaze you by how wonderful they can be. I was truly shocked to see how angry Grissom had been with me but at least now he knew the secret I had been dreading to tell him for two years. Maybe life wouldn't be so bad after all. I guess I will just have to wait for tomorrow to see what the future holds.