The room was still dark when Catherine heard him tapping at the door. Glancing at the clock, she moaned. "Gil," she whined, "go away…"

"It's time to get up my sleeping beauty," he called through the door. "I've made coffee to entice you."

"You make me get up and you'll be wearing the coffee," she called back at him.

"You'll miss what I brought you here to see," It was his turn to whine.

"Oh, alright," she huffed as she threw the covers off of her and trudged to the door. Opening it, she was struck by the light coming from his side. "Augh…light," she groaned.

"Yes, my lovely, light. And here is your coffee. I suggest you get moving, we have to be downstairs in thirty minutes."

"You're cruel."

"That's me, the Tin Man, no heart…" he chuckled.

She took the coffee he was offering and walked back towards her bed. She heard him call out from the other room, "Don't sit on that bed, you'll lie down and go back to sleep."

Grumbling at him, she put the coffee on the night stand and began rummaging through her bag for clothes. Finding a pair of slacks and a sweater, she began getting dressed. "This better be good," she growled at him through the open doorway.

"I think it is," he said. She could just imagine the smirk on his face.

"What about breakfast?"

"After."

"Gil," she whined.

"You'll be fine. We aren't going far."

Finishing up with dressing she turned her attention to her hair. Looking at it in the mirror, she groaned again and settled for a pony tail. "Do I need make up?"

"No."

"Okay," she said reaching for her coffee again. "I guess I'm ready."

He stepped into the doorway and smiled at her. "Good morning."

"Yeah, right."

"You look…beautiful," he said as he looked her over.

"Nose is getting long, Pinocchio," she teased.

"No, It's the truth," he said stepping towards her. "You…" his eyes travelled around her face, the blue orbs twinkling in the low light. "You take my breath away."

"My, my…you do say the nicest things," she said trying to imitate a Southern Belle.

He offered his arm. "If you're ready, Miss Catherine. Your surprise waits."

They headed down and Catherine was surprised when he turned her toward the exit to the beach. Once they had made it out, he produced a flashlight and used it to light their way to the boardwalk and to the beach. Once there, he turned left and headed into the sand. A few yards ahead, he found their destination. A wooden lounge chair was pointed toward the East. Gil sat with his back against the slats of the backrest and motioned for Catherine to sit in front of him. Then he turned off the flashlight. Wrapping his arms around her, he gently pulled her back toward him until she had snuggled into his chest, his warmth surrounding her. "Okay, so now what?" she asked.

"We wait," he said simply.

"Aren't you afraid I'll go back to sleep?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you're curious. And when you get curious, there's no keeping you from finding out…"

She heard the humor in his voice and so accepted his teasing. "True." She settled back into him, comfortable in his arms, and waited. A few minutes later, she began to sense excitement in him. Looking across the beach, she saw the faintest light of dawn beginning to break. "Is this what you brought me out here for?"

"Just wait," he whispered. He tightened his grip on her and leaned into her, relishing the feel of her in his arms. He was nervous but very excited and if things went as he planned, he would have a lot to be excited about. "Just a few more minutes..."

So she waited and she watched and soon the first golden rays of the new day were breaking over the water. And slowly the light fanned out over the gulf. And as the Eastern sky was lit by the golden shafts of light, Gil leaned into her, his mouth just behind her ear. "Every morning since I've been here, I would wake up and watch the sunrise like this. And as beautiful as it is, all I could think of was the way the sun plays in your hair, casting its golden light across your head and illuminating all the vibrant colors in your hair. And I longed to have you here with me, so that I could touch your hair and run my fingers through it, as the sunlight played there." She could feel his fingers in her hair, gently caressing. She closed her eyes and gave into the sensation of him, there, surrounding her and caressing her. And then he began to whisper again. "And as the sun rose and I saw the light play across the water and the sky mingled its color with the blue-green of the water, all I could think of was your eyes and how the color changes from the clearest blue of the sky to a vibrant blue-green that matches any beauty the sea had to offer. And I needed to see them, look into your eyes and see you." He nuzzled into her neck and continued. "And as the warmth of the day began to settle in, I wanted to feel you next to me, with me. I need you, Catherine. And I love you as I've never loved anyone. Just as the sun comes up over the horizon and shines its warmth and light onto the earth, when you walk into a room, you light up my existence. You have since the first day I met you. And the feeling has only grown over the years."

He sat behind her, quiet, but close and she was afraid to move; afraid of breaking the spell that was between them. "And over the past few months, well…I have realized that without you, my life would be very empty. I love you, I need you…" And then she felt him move. His hand reached up for hers and then his other hand came around her side. "The beauty of this is pale when compared to you, but it is all I can offer. Please take it, along with my heart, and keep it safe. Please say that you'll marry me." He was holding a ring. The diamond was stunning and was set in a circle of sapphires. She gasped when she saw it. "Oh Gil, yes" she whispered, too stunned to speak out loud. Carefully he slipped it onto her finger and then kissed her neck, just behind her ear. "Then I am whole again, because you are the better part of me, my heart and my soul."

"More Shakespeare?"

"All Grissom."

She turned and saw love reflected in his eyes. Their kiss was gentle and giving, both knowing that the time for passion would come soon. For this moment, this occasion, they seemed to be unified in desire for closeness, tenderness, willingness to finally give their love acknowledgement. As the kiss ended, Catherine was struck with an impulsive idea. "Let's get married before we go back. We can honeymoon here."

"But the tickets, our jobs…Ecklie."

"I don't care about the tickets or our jobs or Conrad Ecklie. I want to be your wife. I've waited years to tell you I love you and to hear it from you and I've waited months for you, for us to be ready to give our feelings freedom. I don't want to wait a minute longer. We are a part of each other Gil, and I am tired of walking around feeling like a part of me is missing."

His eyes furrowed and he seemed far away for a moment. He felt a tightness in his chest as emotions welled up inside of him and then gratitude washed over him. She had accepted him and wanted him, wanted a life with him so much that she didn't want to wait. Internally he felt himself turning to jelly as he was overcome, not with fear but a sense of belonging. She was willing to give up the things that he believed most women would insist on in preparation for a wedding. She didn't seem to want those things, she only wanted him. Then tears began to form in the corners of his eyes as he looked at her intently, feeling so much happiness. "But there are so many details…" He wanted her to have her special day, a special wedding.

"To hell with the details. We'll work them out later. I want you, all of you and I want to be able to give all of me to you. And I'm selfish, Gil. I don't want to waste another minute on details or what ifs or waiting for everything to be 'right.' I want us and I want it now."

He gave her such a strange look that it terrified her. And then, his lips were on hers, tenderly exploring, giving and taking, loving. The kiss was the tenderest and also the most passionate kiss she had ever had, combined into one.

Gil was stunned by her insistence on a quick marriage. He had not anticipated her eagerness. In fact, it had taken all of his courage to ask her at all. He had been convinced that she would be disgusted by his proposal, knowing what she did about him. He was marveling at her acceptance and now she wanted to marry as quickly as possible. What he felt was beyond happiness, beyond ecstasy, beyond his ability to believe. But as he kissed her, he knew he would do whatever she wanted because he had meant what he said. She was his heart and his soul. He was completely hers now, and she was his.

As their lips parted, he looked at her. "You really mean it? You want to get married now?"

"Yes," she said as she nodded eagerly.

"Okay, then let's get back to the hotel. We have some arranging to do."

So they headed back, Gil's brain already in gear, trying to organize the event.

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Okay, probably a little too mushy at the end. But after all that darkness, we need some light, right? Anyway one more chapter! Please review. Did you like Gil's surprise?