Growing Period.

Epilog

Summary: Things have changed.

A/N: This is it. I can't believe that I really finished this story. Thank you for the lovely reviews I've gotten and of course thanks to my wonderful betas. Without Ace and Muriel I couldn't have done this.
Thank you for sticking with this and I really hope you're going to enjoy this end.

xxxxx

"That's a Cooper's hawk. When they look for food, it looks as if they're standing in the air. But it's only warm air."

The brief explanation was rewarded with something akin to a smile, which in turn made the girl who had spoken smile as well. A small gap between the girl's upper front teeth was revealed and her eyes shone with pride that she had done something right.

"Very good, Chipmunk."

Amelia looked up at Sara, still smiling. She was proud that the adults didn't baby her and let her explain things. "The baby needs to know everything!" she told them, her voice absolutely serious.

Amelia's love for animals had only intensified and she seemed intent on passing her already vast knowledge on to the newest addition to their little circle.

It didn't matter that at four months, the baby was too young to understand what Amelia was talking about. She felt useful and grown up while explaining things.

"Yes, she does. I hope that you'll tell us something about another animal every time we're here. Deal?" Grissom bent down to be at the girl's eye level and held his hand out.

Amelia didn't hesitate and shook his hand. "Deal!"

She smiled again before turning around and running towards the next enclosure.

It was good that some things didn't change.

Others, however, never stopped changing and therefore kept growing.

He looked up at Sara, who had that same thought written all over her face.

"Still scared?" he asked, standing up and taking her into his arms.

"Yes, but that's okay. It will keep me from falling into a routine and making mistakes." Sara looked down, taking in everything about their 'little bug.'

It was still a bit early to tell for sure, but Grissom seemed to have gotten what he wanted: dark curly hair, deep chocolate brown eyes and a smile that made him melt. Only the gap was missing, but who knew what would be when her teeth finally started growing?

Secretly, she hoped there wouldn't be a gap, but either way, their baby was perfect.

She never would have thought that being a mother would come to her naturally after the baby was born. The time they had spent preparing every possible way seemed to have come to fruition. She hadn't been scared of holding her, picking her up, changing her, playing with her - of 'breaking something.' She was still scared that she might hurt her, most of all emotionally, but not by doing the simple things.

Leonor was quiet by nature, making it easy for them. The others had been surprised by just how quiet she seemed to be. They had expected her to be more like Sara, being on the move constantly, but in that regard, she seemed to take after Grissom – at least for now.

Every day, there was something new they discovered about her and tried to match the trait to either of them. So far, she seemed to be a perfect mix.

"What about you?" When Sara looked back up, she found Grissom gazing at their child with such love that it blew her away.

Even at four months she had them both wrapped around her tiny little finger, but neither of them really minded. This was their perfect little girl and they were supposed to be absolutely smitten with her.

"Yes, but that's okay," he mimicked her, telling her so much more with his smile. "If I stop being scared, that's when I'll start to worry."

Brass had been right. It was so much scarier now that the baby was really there, looking at him, smiling at him, crying for him. But the fear wasn't as strong as the love he felt and the confidence that Sara and their relationship gave him.

Two years ago, none of this would have been possible. He and Sara had to grow and their relationship had to develop with them.

"Can I tell the baby about the chipmunks?" Amelia's voice ripped through their moment, but it didn't bother them.

After all, how could they be mad at the little angel who had helped them overcome their demons?

Grissom mouthed "I love you" to Sara before nodding to Amelia and taking her hand.

"I love you, too."

The end!