Chapter Twenty One:

They arrived together. There were talks about the road trip which left them in hysterics as they talked about accidently leaving Greg at a gas station and not realizing it until he called them on his cell. There was the matter of the dog. Sara was a bit worried when Greg said that Hodges had agreed to babysit Hank.

"You told him about his need to slobber and drool and his obsession for leather shoes," said Sara.

"Most of it," said Greg.

She frowned but it was soon replaced with a smile when she was fully embraced by Brass. He took her by the hand and they walked away leaving the others to head into the villa.

"How are you kiddo?" he asked.

"Good," she said.

"Listen, I was wondering if I could give you away?" he asked.

"You would?" she asked.

"Warrick, Nick and Greg are going to be best men…I'm still trying to visualize that but I told Grissom I wanted to walk my daughter down the aisle," he said.

She kissed him fully on the cheeks and then they stood there holding each other as they whispered how much they had missed one another and how difficult it had been to be apart.

"You look good…you look happy," said Brass.

"I am," she said with a huge grin on her face.

"Good cause now I want to chew your ass out for leaving the way you did. It scared the hell out of us not to mention Grissom. Don't you ever do that again," he said.

"I won't," she said pulling him in for another hug.

He smiled at her as they headed back.

"Jim?"

"Yeah?"

"He wants to try again," she whispered.

"What about you? What do you want?" he asked.

"Me too," she said with a goofy grin.

"Going to be some honeymoon," he said. "Guess it's too late for the birds and bees story, huh?"

"You're not serious? Of course, I've never heard that story so why don't you…"

"Not a chance," he said. "I just thought I would throw that in and make it sound so nostalgic."

They both laughed.

He wasn't prepared to be kicked out of the villa. She packed his suitcase and had Greg take it to the car.

"Sara…"

"You're not supposed to see the bride before the wedding. I'll meet you there tomorrow," she said with a light kiss to his lips.

"Is that all I get? I have to share a room with Greg and you give me a slight peck on the lips?"

She pursed her lips and grinned.

He felt his heart melt.

"Actually, you have a room to yourself…I don't trust Greg or Nick with you the night before our wedding. I would trust Warrick but he needs to be here to make sure the other two don't get into anything."

"You mean…"

"They're staying here," she said.

"Why can't…."

She kissed him once more but this time he felt her tongue parting his lips as she deepened the kiss causing the air to suddenly get warm and he stepped back.

"I should leave now," he said.

She glanced down and smiled. "Yes, you should….don't stay up too long."

He glared at her and she chuckled closing the door.

"What do you want to do on your last night as a single lady?" asked Catherine.

"Sleep," said Sara.

"Uhm that's not what I was looking for but we can accept that," said Catherine glancing at the others.

"Really? Okay, how about ordering a really fattening pizza and then maybe a really bad movie so Greg can make fun of it. Warrick, Nick and Brass can overeat pizza while you and I discuss erogenous zones," said Sara.

They gawked at her.

"Okay, so I already know how many…"

"How many are there?" asked Greg.

"Who's up for "cops"? I think it's on tonight," said Nick.

"You have to be kidding right?" asked Brass.

"There is the small matter of you being my bride's maid," said Sara.

Catherine smiled but then frowned. "That usually means I have to wear some crappy dress the bride has picked out."

"You can choose…there's a shop just up the street," said Sara.

Catherine smiled, "I could go for a shopping spree…do we get to use Grissom's card?"

"Yes but since my name is attached to that card, let's keep it reasonable."

The girls disappeared for a few hours as the men decided it was safer to stay at the villa.

"Wonder what Grissom is doing?" asked Warrick.

"What did you do on the night before your wedding?" asked Greg.

"I worked."

"Let's hope Grissom is not doing that," said Nick.

"He's probably sleeping," said Brass.

They glanced at one another.

"You know he seemed a little upset that Sara sent him to a hotel by himself," said Nick grinning.

Warrick and Greg suddenly had the same goofy grin.

"If you guys are thinking about doing something stupid with Grissom, I'm not involved," said Brass.

"I guess we'll have to rely on our own conscious…too bad. You could make sure we didn't cross the line," said Nick.

"Or spread the blame if we do something dumb," whispered Greg to Nick who chuckled.

Brass stared at the three.

"Warrick, you wouldn't let them do anything…."
"Of course not…besides, Grissom probably won't go out with us anyway," said Warrick.

"We'll just have to take the party to him," said Greg.

"I don't like this," said Brass as he grabbed his hat.

"You don't have to come along," chided Nick.

"Yeah, right. Somebody will have to bail you guys out of jail," muttered Brass.

He was surprised when there was a knock on the hotel door. He grinned suddenly when visions of Sara came to mind.

She can't wait…

She's snuck away…

He quickly opened the door and frowned.

"What are you guys doing?" he asked.

"That's no way to treat your friends…we thought we …"

"Sara doesn't trust you guys with me," he said glancing at Brass.

"Don't look at me. I'm just here for bail money," he said.

"Sorry guys. I have no intention of screwing up this late in the game," he said.

"Griss, it's tradition," said Nick holding his hand out to block the door.

"I'm breaking tradition so Sara doesn't break some of your bones," said Grissom.

Brass chuckled. "She would too."

"Just a few drinks," said Nick.

"No," he replied.

"Okay. How about some strip joint…do they have these here?" asked Greg.

"If Sara heard you say that you wouldn't be standing," said Brass.

"You know Griss, you're supposed to buy your wife something special for the honeymoon…you know you two haven't mentioned the honeymoon," said Warrick. "Don't do what I did…got married and didn't make time for that."

"Honeymoon?" asked Grissom.

"You can't be serious?" asked Brass. "You did plan something special, right?"

Grissom looked guilty.

"Good thing we came," said Warrick. "You've got a few hours to fix this."

"Fix?" asked Grissom.

They grabbed him and took him to the car but Greg stopped them just before they were going to thrust him into the back seat.

"Wait," he said as he began to pat Grissom down.

"Greg, what are you doing?" asked Grissom.

"Making sure you have your wallet," said Greg.

"Stop touching me," he warned.

"Touchy, touchy, touchy," said Greg stepping back in case he decided to throttle him.

He sat between Nick and Warrick as Brass sat in the front seat. He wasn't sure whose idea it was to let Greg drive. He drove a short distance and then pulled over and grinned.

"This should do," said Greg.

"It has to be tasteful but…well we'll know when we see his reaction," said Brass.

They exited the car and stepped into the shop. Grissom stared at the contents.

"You see something you like?" asked Nick with a grin.

"I do," said Greg. "I never had a date who wore anything like this." He held up a pair of shiny silk stockings.

"You never will…wait unless you choose to take that prostitute up on her offer," said Nick.

"So funny…like you have any offers these days," said Greg.

"I have a few," he said with a grin.

"We'll be sure and tell Mandy," said Warrick.

"That's not cool," said Nick suddenly serious.

"I guess we just figured out who Nick is buying for," said Brass.

Grissom continued to stare at the clothing in the shop.

Brass whispered into his ear, "Close your mouth."

He glanced at Brass. "You mean husbands are supposed to buy these things for their wives?"

"Oh yeah," said Warrick. "Women love this stuff."

"I'm not sure Sara would wear some of this…" began Brass.

Grissom grinned for a moment but then quickly removed it from his face.

"I think Grissom just let something slip," said Greg.

"I think you want to be injured on this trip," replied Grissom.

Greg stepped further away.

They spread out in the shop. Greg took refuge in the edible section while Warrick and Nick sought out the matching undergarments.

Brass played it safe and looked at the gowns. He chuckled when he found a few that were elegant in the front but when flipped around, there was visibly no backing.

"Gives a new meaning to second glances," he muttered.

Grissom became engrossed in the gowns. He held up an elegant gown.

It would look beautiful on her…

Of course it wouldn't stay very long on her body…

Still…

He fumbled through the sizes. A clerk came over to stand next to him.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"I'm not sure about the size," he said.

"Where what are her measurements?" she asked.

He rattled them off instantly and the others chuckled.

"And we thought he was just a bugman," said Nick.

The clerk ignored the others and handed him the size he needed.

"You have very good taste," she said. "Might I suggest these to go with the gown?"

She held up matching undergarments.

Grissom nodded.

"Nice!" said Nick.

Warrick whistled while Greg gawked.

Brass suddenly coughed and then mumbled something.

"What's wrong?" asked Grissom. "Don't you think she'll like it?"

"Yes, she will…it feels weird shopping for something for someone you love like a daughter," said Brass.

Grissom smiled, "I'm shopping for …"

"The only person you've ever loved," finished the guys.

"It's perfect," said Brass.

Grissom was pleased with his choices. The clerk wrapped the purchases and they started to leave when Grissom stopped and looked down into a glass case.

"Can I see that?" he asked.

The clerk removed the necklace and handed it to Grissom. It was a beautiful locket. He purchased it as well.

They stood now outside the shop and glanced at one another.

"Well, this outing was harmless," said Grissom.

"We're not done," said Nick.

"Yes, we are," said Grissom. "I have a honeymoon to plan."

Nick frowned. "Any ideas?"

"I thought we would go see the ocean," said Grissom.

"Hawaii?" asked Greg.

"San Francisco," said Grissom.

"Why there?" asked Brass.

"It's where we first met. It's where we fell in love," he said.

"And I didn't think you were romantic," said Nick.

She was standing there with arms folded when they stepped into the villa. One look and they were frightened.

"What did we do?" asked Nick defensively.

"Exactly what I was going to ask! What did you guys do?" asked Sara.

"We went shopping," said Brass sitting down.

"I expected this out of them but not you!" she yelled.

"Sara, calm down…" began Nick.

"What did you do to Grissom?" she asked.

"We took him shopping," said Nick with a smile.

She glared at him and he stepped back. Greg yelped when Nick stepped on him.

"What condition is he in?" asked Sara.

"Sara, relax. He's fine."

"His wallet is little a lighter but he's fine."

"What kind of shops…did you guys go down to that cantina with the…"

"It was all innocent," said Brass. "He purchased you a gift."

"A gift?" she asked softly.

"Yes…for your honeymoon," smiled Greg.

"Honeymoon? We never talked about…"

"He's back at the hotel planning it now."

"Oh…oh," she said with a goofy Sara Sidle smile.

"What happened to the fattening pizza and the really bad movie?" asked Greg. "I'm starving."

"It's on its way," said Catherine with a smile. "Beer anyone?" She was trampled by the guys as Catherine handed one to Sara.

"No thanks," she said with a smile. "I don't need it…or want it."

"How about a nice glass of tea with me?" asked Brass.

"I'm sorry…you know for thinking…"

"They tried…he was determined to not screw up. You would be proud of him."

"I am," she said.

She stood there and smiled as she watched them cackle over the movie. It was entitled "Groundhog Day." She chuckled a few times herself and thought Grissom would find it humorous as well. She slipped out of the room and closed her bedroom door. She dialed his number.

"I miss you," she whispered.

"Same here," he said.

"Tired?" she asked.

"Yes…I'm going to turn in early," he said.

"The guys are still watching a movie. Gil?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you," she said swallowing the lump in their throat. "The words don't seem to say enough."

He smiled imagining her lying there on the bed.

"I love you too…you can show me tomorrow…after we're married…but then we've already been married haven't we?"

"Yes…I could never imagine my life without you," she said.

"You are my life."

"Don't make me cry…Jim has done it a few times already," she said.

"Happy?"

"More than I deserve."

"Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you smiling?"

"Yes."

"Good…I've missed your smile."

"Night Gil."

"Night Mrs. Grissom."

Her smile deepened.

"It's that huge smile…isn't it?" he asked softly.

"Yep," she said.

"Wear it tomorrow," he said.

Note from author:

I have arrived in New York! I am posting before heading out to mingle downstairs... I hope to finish up the story tomorrow to celebrate Addy's graduation! Have a happy day Addy! I am currently writing on a new one...have written ten pages already...I so need therapy...or a ghost hunt but that's not until Friday so I will mingle with the other ghost hobby folks and then secretly sneak back up here and write some more. Leave a review!

Take care,

Penny