AN: Thanks to the readers and the reviews. Here is the next chapter, enjoy.

Chapter 25: Father Material

Throughout most of the day Grissom had a little follower in Paige and when it was time for her to take a nap she wouldn't lay down because she was worried that he would leave, so after the third try Lauren walks in the living room with a crying Paige in her arms, and she asked. "Gil somebody here is having a tough time falling asleep and we were wondering if you would..."

Grissom cuts her off as he stood up from sitting on the couch. "I would be happy too."

Paige smiled, as did Lauren. "Thank you."

Grissom nodded, walks up to them, holds out his arms, which Paige immediately gets into his arms and wraps her arms around his neck, he smiled and walked out of the room, while the rest of them were smiling as they watched that small display.

When Paige finally fell asleep he stayed next to her bed and watched her as a feeling washed over him.

Like he had thought when he was in San Francisco at the park the first day, he had always liked children and if one day he would become fortunate enough to be named a father he would embrace it, but staring at this innocent little girl, that
feeling became a wish now.

It wasn't an 'if' anymore it was a 'when', yes he cringed when Sadie's and Paige's crying wouldn't seem like it quiet down, but when he was with Paige and hearing her laugh throughout the day, reading her to sleep and watching her like this he felt it was all worth it.

Now he just needed to bring that subject up to the one and only woman he would want to share that experience with, but he will wait when the time was right.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a presences in the doorway, he turns in that direction and sees Sara standing there with a smile on her face.
He smiles back, turns to the girl, stands up from the chair that he was sitting on, leans down toward her, kisses her on the forehead and whispered. "Sleep tight, I'll see you when you get up." Then he walked over to the doorway.

When he stops next to Sara they look at the child one more time, then turn and walk out the door, cracking it behind them.

Once they were in the hall he said. "They are so innocent at that age."

Sara nodded, slipped her hand in his and asked. "Do you remember when you were five?"

They walk a little ways down the medium-sized hall then stops, he looks at her and replied. "A little, but mostly bits and pieces, except my first day of school. For some reason I can still remember it as if it happened yesterday."

He smiled, while reminiscing. "I was didn't want to go at first because I was afraid no one would like me and my dad." He gets sad thinking about his dad and
mentally shake his head a second later as she squeezed his hand, then continued. "Anyway my dad gave me a pep talk. I was still scared but I knew I had to go and right before the teacher spoke her first words to the class I had already made a friend." He smiled wistfully at the two men who were no longer with him and she brings him closer, wrapped her arms around him and just held him.

While in the hug she runs her hand up and down his back and said. "I'm sorry if I brought up sad memories." She didn't know much about his dad because that was a sore subject for him to talk about, which she understood perfectly.

She mentally shakes her head of her past as he continued to hold her, then he spoke. "It's ok, it feels nice to think of a positive memory of them." She nodded as they pulled back, then he asks, while looking into her eyes. "What about you? Do you have memories on when you were five?"

After he asked that he just remembered that she had changed the subject when their childhood's came up when they were getting to know one another in San Francisco, and he was about to tell her that she didn't have to say anything when he saw her emotions flicker. It was his first real sign that something did happen back than and that got him a little worried, so he puts his hand on her cheek and asked in a concern tone. "What is it?"

She took a moment, cleared her throat and replied. "Nothing and no I don't remember." She gives him a smile, which he would consider it being one of her fake ones, then she starts walking ahead of him.

Grissom frowned as he watched her walk away, and as much as he wanted to know what happened he wasn't going to press her on it, he will wait patiently until she was ready to say something.

Through the rest of the day and evening they were all having a good time hanging out, talking and laughing and right before bedtime Grissom got to see a wonderful sight that will always be branded in his mind.

He had walked down the stairs after reading Paige her bedtime story again, stood in the doorway of the living room and saw Sara sitting on the couch, looking down and feeding little Sadie her bottle, making his heart melt. He didn't know how she feels about having kids but looking at her now she seemed like a natural.

His thoughts get interrupted when Vince speaks, while stopping next to him. "You have the bug." Grissom looks at him with a raised eyebrow as Vince looked at him. "The fatherhood bug." Grissom smiled as he looked down, confirming Vince's words, then he continued. "And I hope it happens for you guys because despite all the stress that could come with a child, it is worth it and I wouldn't trade it for a second."

Grissom looks back at Vince and replied. "I got that impression, you are great father."

Vince smiled and replied. "Thank you and I have no doubt you'll make an excellent father yourself and that child would be so lucky." Grissom smiled, and Vince looked at Sara with his youngest as he finished. "I know that because if I had choice on who my father was." Vince looked back at him and continued. "It would be you."

Vince never knew his father so when he started working at the lab and watched how Grissom was, he thought how he acted was how a man should be and even though only five years separated them, he felt so much younger when he was around him because he felt that Grissom was so much wiser and mature for his age.

Grissom was so deeply touched and surprised at his statement that he had to clear his throat a few times for him to be able to speak. "I am so honored that you feel that way and I hope you're right about the father thing."

Vince smiles again but before he could speak, Lauren comes up behind Vince, wrapped her arms around his waist and did it for him. "You have the tools to make a great father Gil, it's a matter of confidence. I agree with Vince."

Grissom looks down at her complement as he heard Sara's voice now. "Agree with Vince about what?"

Grissom looks up from the floor and begs with his eyes to Lauren and Vince not to say anything, but Vince looks at Sara and answered. "That the boss will make a great father someday." Grissom looks at Sara then looks down, wishing they wouldn't have said that to her.

As Sara was handing Sadie to her father she replied. "I agree." Grissom looks up at Sara and just smiled, happy that she thought that too.

After securing his daughter in one arm, Vince pats Grissom on the shoulder and said. "See, everyone agrees." Then he looks over his shoulder at his wife and asked. "Ready for bed babe?"

Lauren nodded, looked at the guests and said. "Anything is at your disposal and hope you have a good night." They smiled again, thanked them, then said goodnight.

After they were upstairs Sara and Grissom look at each other then Grissom asked. "You want to go change and just lie down?"

She nodded and he made extra sure all the doors and windows were locked then they walked into the family room and into the office hand in hand.

Once they were changed, and after sitting up in bed, under the covers, he asked. "So you really think that I would make a good father?"

She looks at him and replied. "I think it's too early for us to make that choice yet, but in general yes I do." He nodded, accepting that answer for now, then as she laid down she continued. "Unlike me."

He frowned and laid down on his side, while she was on her back, then he commented. "Sara I think you'll make a great mother."

She turns her head to look at him and replied. "Why? because you saw me have one moment with a baby?"

"Ok I admit I haven't seen a lot of kids around you but you seem to handle them alright."

She shakes her head and responded. "That's because you don't see how terrified I am." Still looking at her, he was about to talk but she continues when she looks back at the ceiling. "I don't know how to talk or comfort them. I didn't have the best role models."

Having a second sign of it sounding like she didn't have a good childhood in so many hours worried him even more, so he props his elbow on the mattress, puts his head on the palm of his hand and asked. "Sara..."

She shakes her head, looks at him, while cutting him off. "I don't want to talk about this, not here or now."

"Alright." He puts his free hand on her cheek and said sincerely. "But when you want to talk you can and I'll listen, and know that nothing you tell me will change how I feel about you, ok?" She nodded with tears in her eyes, he leans down, pecks her on the lips and after he pulls back he continued. "I love you Sara Sidle."

She puts a hand on his cheek, brings him back to her and kisses him a little longer then a peck but shorter than some of the passionate ones they share, and when he pulls back again she replied. "I love you too Gilbert Grissom."

He smiled, kissed her forehead, lays down on his side again, brings her closer to him, tucks her head under his chin, while wrapping his arms around her.

She wraps her arms around him, feeling safe and secure and they just laid there quietly until they eventually fell asleep.

AN: Want more? Next Chapter: They are heading home. Please review.