Warrick stared at the figure sat on his doorstep.
"Eva?"
"In the flesh" she replied softly, a small smile on her face.
Indeed she was, suitcase in hand, the soft beginnings of snow settled on her rain drenched hair and clothing, she sat against his doorstep staring at the soft layer of snow that was beginning to settle. She'd sat there for almost half an hour wondering what she should say what she could do. Terrified that they'd never get past what had happened.
When you said to this, I knew that you're mine
When I caught you there, crying in the night.
Wearing my jacket, wearing that smile
I knew that I found you.
Warrick walked over to her, locking his car before he did and sat next to her on the step.
"I was looking for you," he said
"You found me" she replied gently, her voice broke and tears welled in her eyes.
Were you unawares, did it catch you out?
Or did it break you there right from the start,
This is pure as fire; this is pure as snow.
I knew that I'd found you.
He sat beside her and felt the fear in her heart, he recognised it in himself. Suddenly the world was quiet and it was only the two of them set against the enchanting white snow uncertain of their future. He took her hand in his.
This could be an opportunity
This could be an opportunity
"I got you"
Eva let her head lower onto his shoulder and she shut her eyes. Maybe she didn't need to say anything at all.
This could be an opportunity
If you promise to let it,
If your promise to let it grow
Coz you're the one I love
-Bloc Party; Tulips-
Grissom ran his thumb along the side of Sara's face. She curled further into his arms and he smiled in delight. They'd talked all night, picking at the food brought by Catherine, Greg and Nick earlier finally falling asleep on the sofa in Sara's living room, the bright midday Christmas sun sparkled into the living room and for a moment Grissom didn't believe he was truly here. Then Sara began to stretch slowly awakening and lucidity returned.
"Merry Christmas" she yawned with a smile
"Merry Christmas" he returned her yawn with a kiss, tightly clasped in his hand was the engagement ring that he'd found sometime during the night in Sara's coat pocket.
He flattened it onto her palm "Sara Sidle. Will you marry me?"
Sara blinked. Then blinked again in disbelief.
Finally her mouth cracked into a smile, her adorable gap tooth showing "Why I certainly will Gilbert Grissom"
As they hugged the urgent ringing of the doorbell suddenly interrupted their celebrations. Grissom raised his eyebrows and went to answer it and was mildly amused as Greg and Catherine burst in arguing animatedly and loaded with shopping bags.
"You should have used the navigator, if you had it wouldn't have taken so long to find those shoes!" sighed Greg
Catherine snorted "Crap! That thing is a robot! What does she know? And they're not just shoes they're Vera Wang"
Greg gave Grissom a look of exasperation and headed into the kitchen with the shopping bags.
"Nice to see you both" said Grissom pointedly
Catherine smiled flippantly but not nastily "It is. We're here for the Christmas lunch we promised Sara. Now are you going to help or are you just going to stand there?"
Grissom shot a look at Sara and she beamed and waved for him to go ahead, following afterwards Nick and his new girlfriend followed with Warrick and Eva close behind them.
"We really should start locking that door," sighed Sara, with a laugh.
"Hey guys. We heard there's some lunch going on…I brought…beer" smiled Warrick swinging a six-pack.
Nick introduced his girlfriend… "Guys this is Danielle. Donna this is; Catherine, Greg, Warrick, Eva, Grissom or Gil whichever and Sara"
"Welcome to the madness" said Grissom in greeting
"Err…thanks…I think" smiled Danielle, where Nick was confident, loud, Texan and brunette, Danielle wasfair haired, shy, and…sweet. She still knew how to handle Nick when needed though.
The rest of the group greeted her warmly, with Eva telling her to ignore Grissom and Catharine asking her who did her hair.
Nick, satisfied that the introductions had gone well promptly began to make his way through a bag of Doritos from Catherine's groceries whilst Danielle looked chagrined but amused.
"This is great…us all together. Eating someone else's food, taking over someone else's house…just what Christmas is about" beamed Greg stealing an impish kiss on Catherine's cheek that elicited a few good-natured cheers from the rest of the crowd in the kitchen.
"Yeah us together with our shifts…its' a Christmas miracle" added Nick with his trademark grin
At this the rest of the room snorted with laughter. Warrick shook his head smiling "Trust you man, to bring out the cheese"
"So Nicky my boy…what gifts do you bear for us this yuletide?" asked Grissom smirking
Nick laughed "My love and unconditional friendship?" he offered sheepishly
Even Danielle couldn't resist joining in the general catcalls of Nick being stingy and cheap.
"All right, all right…now if we're going to have any sort of meal we're all going to need to get our hands dirty" ordered Catherine, putting it to herself to take over the proceedings.
"Well Cath, I didn't know you got down like that," teased Eva
Catherine rolled her eyes and laughed "Just for that, you can get all the fancy plates in the car. I figured Sara wouldn't have any"
Sara pretended to look hurt "Gee thanks"
Catherine winked "Any time".
She tossed her car keys at Eva who set off outside, huffing and puffing for having been sent out in the cold for good measure. Warrick followed after her, muttering some excuse about needing something from his own car.
Warrick caught up with Eva and watched amused as she wrestled with trying to keep Catherine's car boot open and balancing a box of fine china that she was pretty sure would cause Catherine to get into quite a snit over if she dropped them. He couldn't imagine now that he had almost lost her a few days ago; the white cloud on her red hair, beautifully contrasting.
He rushed over and caught the box before it's contents shattered. "Whoa! Steady" he held the box up easily, looking over at Eva cockily.
"Piece of cake" he smirked
"Still a damn show off," she grumbled kicking some snow at him with her foot.
Warrick chuckled and annoyed her further by managing to kick some snow back at her "Can you get something from my car, my keys are in my pocket"
"Can't you do it yourself?" she teased, getting back at him.
Warrick shook his head and smiled "Just get em. Please"
Eva reached into his jacket pocket and instead of finding something metal and sharp she felt something soft and velvet. She picked out a dark velvet box and stared at it in shock.
"Is this for me?" she asked, astounded, her green eyes glittered with tears.
Warrick chuckled again but his voice was softer, a little more nervous "For a CSI you aren't too sharp. Go ahead, open it"
She opened it and giggled in delight at the silver and gold diamond accented ring that lay nestled in inky blue silk. She slipped it onto her ring finger.
"I can't really get down on hand and foot right now but…if I could I'd ask you to marry me…I know that we've just got back together…but life is too short I don't want to waste any more time…I love you, you know" he said softly, with an uncharacteristically shy smile
"If it wasn't too cold to cry, I'd cry and say…yes. I love you too you know. I always did" she beamed with delight and stared at the ring that fit so snugly on her finger. She raked a hand through her hair and then laughed again breathlessly
"Hmm…I am crying"
Warrick leant forward and kissed her lovingly. "I think we better go inside before everyone gets suspicious" he suggested when he broke away
Eva swung her arm around Warrick's waist and they walked back into the house.
Inside Catherine was still delegating various jobs to the group. "And...you Nick since you like food so much, can start stuffing the turkey"
Nick looked disgusted "Aww man!" he pouted petulantly
Danielle pushed him forwards smiling "Come on honey"
Greg would have laughed at Nick if he hadn't been given the rather irritating job of doing the left over dishes.
As the group continued to chatter and talk enthusiastically, finally getting the festive spirit, Sara pulled Grissom outside into the snow for a moment of privacy.
Grissom waded after her in the snow, the look on his face testament to him not being a fan of the glittering thick white blanket that had developed around him.
"Sara it's freezing, you're going to catch a cold," warned Grissom
Sara giggled and held out her tongue catching the icy flakes, Grissom shivered and stopped to watch Sara, mesmerised. She was utterly enchanting, twirling around like an angel in the white.
She stopped and walked over to Grissom she took his hand and placed it on her stomach "Isn't it amazing?" She whispered
Grissom felt his breath catch in his throat with emotion.
"In a few weeks I'll feel it kicking…and I'll get bigger and then in a few months from now…I will have a baby. Our baby. Can you believe that?" She stared up at the vivid blue sky and painted the memory of the moment and the sensation forever in her mind. She'd come a long way from the shy awkward girl who never believed in love.
"Did you think we'd get this far?" she murmured turning to him, her brown eyes stared at him nervously.
Grissom squeezed her hand and replied honestly "No. Until yesterday…I didn't think this was possible"
Sara smiled with relief that he felt the same "Me neither"
She nestled her head onto his shoulder and he curled his arm around Sara's shoulder to warm and comfort her. Softly kissing her hair and the melting flakes that rested there.
"It's like Nick says…it's a Christmas miracle" smirked Grissom.
Sara laughed and hooked her arm with his and they made their way back into the house to enjoy what was left of their Christmas.
I was crying over you nothing can compare nothing can compare nothing can compare Nothing
I am smiling, I think of you
where your gardens have no walls
breathe in the air if you care, you compare, don't say farewell
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
nothing can compare
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
I was crying over you
I am smiling, I think of you
misty mornings and water falls
breathe in the air if you care, you compare, don't say farewell
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
nothing can compare
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
nothing can compare
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
Virtuous sensibility
escape velocity
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
nothing can compare
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
nothing can compare
to when you roll the dice and swear your love's for me
breathe in the air if you care, you compare, don't say farewell
-Finley Quaye; Dice-
FIN
FINALLY! It's done! I feel a little bittersweet about it but I have learnt a few things (I hope) and my next CSI fic will hopefully show that I have learnt. Actually The Killing Moon is a CSI/Donnie Darko crossover if anyone wants to check that out! ; )
Thank you so much to everyone who stuck by me and I hope I didn't disappoint. You've all been great even the flame guy who made me more careful with my writing(See there is no such thing as bad press!) More thanks to Alias101 who was like a cheerleader all through this!
Well that's it from the Eva character and myself thanks for the support and…bye for now!