AN: Thanks for the reviews. Here is the next chapter.
Chapter 48: Letting her go & he would be proud
As Grissom stepped inside the Groom's tent, he heard the last part of BreAnna's speech. "...Your father would be so proud of you right now."
BreAnna had snuck out of the group's circle a few minutes ago to talk to her son.
Grissom smiled and replied. "He would." BreAnna and Rick look at him, and he cleared his throat before continuing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."
BreAnna shook her head. "It's ok, I was just finishing up." She looked at her 27-year-old son and continued. "I love you son."
Rick smiled, which still blew her away on how much his smile reminded her of Warrick, then he said. "I love you too, mom. Thank you for everything that you've done for me."
"You're welcome." Then she reached up and kissed his cheek before looking into his green eyes and walking away.
After BreAnna walked out of the tent, Grissom walked fully in, then walked up to him.
As he stopped in front of the young man, he just looked at him in his tux, and besides his skin being a little lighter, he could have been looking at Warrick right now.
Rick Brown graduated at UNLV with a Bachelor's degree, and like most of the second generation, he was working at the lab, but on the graveyard shift.
He grew up knowing his father from stories and seeing pictures of him, and when he found out that he died trying to protect the Grissom twins, he felt more honored to have a father like that.
When the twins found out the story, Heidi was afraid that Rick wouldn't like them anymore because his father died protecting her and her sister, but that wasn't the case, in fact that conversation lead to the start of their relationship.
Flashback
July 23, 2025
About 9 years ago
Needing to process what their parents just told them about their Uncle Warrick, 17-year-old Ricki and Heidi were at the park. They weren't mad that their parents waited till now to tell them that their Uncle died protecting them, they were just in shock. Growing up, they were told he died on the job but they didn't know the whole story until about 15 minutes ago.
As they sat on the swing set, they looked up and saw that Rick was walking up to them, then they swallowed as he got closer, not knowing what mood he would be in. They knew that his mother had told him the same thing their parents just told them.
When he stopped in front of them, they all said a quiet hi, then Ricki shook her head as she got off the swing she was in, gave him a hug and said. "I'm so sorry Rick." Before running off, needing to be away from him just in case he hated her.
Heidi watched her sister run away and was torn between following her or staying with her second best friend.
She looked at Rick, swallowed again and said. "I understand if you hate us."
Rick shook his head, walked up closer to her and replied. "How can I hate you guys?"
"Because we're here and your father's not."
"From all the stories about the type of man he was, he would have protected your mother whether she was pregnant or not. I'm so proud of my father.
I wish he wouldn't have died, but he died saving a family." He walked up closer to her, helped her stand up, then cupped her cheek and he continued while looking into her brown eyes. "Saving the woman who I've fallen in love with."
Their hearts were pounding as they were looking into each other's eyes, and in that moment she realized that the feelings she had been getting towards him the last couple of months had been slowly changing into romantic ones. And she was shocked that he might have felt the same way.
She swallowed for the third time in the last few minutes, then asked. "You've fallen in love me?"
He nodded. "It happened when we went to our winter formal. I remember looking at you and thinking you were so beautiful, which I had always thought that, but it was the first time I thought about it in a romantic way. And ever since then, I can't stop thinking about you in that way. If you don't feel that way, just tell me..." She cuts him off by kissing him.
When she didn't feel that he was kissing her back, she was going to pull away, but he responded a second later, finally getting over the shock that she felt the same way he had ben feeling for months.
As they finally pulled back, she opened her eyes and said. "I love you too Rick. I know it's something we didn't expect. But that's life isn't it, throwing surprises left and right."
He gave her a small smile and replied. "You're telling me."
After looking into each other's eyes in silence for a few minutes, Heidi cleared her throat and said. "I should go find Ricki." He nodded as she continued. "I'm sorry about your father."
"Thank you, just always remember that I don't hate any of you. In my eyes he died a hero."
She cups his cheek and replied. "He really did." After pecking him on the lips, she pulls back. "I'll talk to you later."
"Ok, love you."
"Love you too."
After pecking him on the lips for a third time, she pulled out of his arms, looked at him for a second longer, then they smiled softly at each other before she walked away.
While watching her walk away, Rick took a breath as he sat down in the swing Heidi was just sitting in.
The moment he found out what his dad did, he felt that he had to talk to the twins because he knew that they might have felt low or even blamed themselves on what happened, so he actually went to the Grissom household first, and Grissom told him that they would probably be at the park.
As he walked up to them, he hadn't planned on telling Heidi how he felt today, but when she told him that she wouldn't blame him if he hated them, he couldn't have her thinking that, so he went with his heart, which paid off in a big way.
He smiled as he thought of his new girlfriend, and hoped his father would have been proud of him, just like he was proud of his father.
End of flashback
As Rick was coming back to the present, Grissom speaks. "I know we've all said this to you through the years, but you look so much like your father, and your mother was right, he really would be proud of the man you've become, just like I am."
Rick nodded with a smile. "Thank you, that really means a lot to me."
Grissom nodded, then he cleared his throat and continued. "Now in regards of my daughter."
Rick puts up his hand to stop him, and said. "Sir, I love your daughter very much, and I promise to be the best husband I can be for her. I won't let any of you down."
Grissom smiled and held out his hand, then as Rick shook it, Grissom said. "Now that you will be officially part of the Grissom family, I would be honored if you called me dad, if you want to of course. That is purely up to you, no pressure."
Rick smiled again, then said. "Of course, thank you."
They release hands, then get into a hug, and Grissom couldn't help but think Warrick was looking down and smiling at them today.
When Sara walked into the Bride's tent she watched/heard her three girls signing and laughing, then she smiled before clearing her throat.
Ricki, Heidi, and after a tiny delay, Beth, looked her way, and she smiled bigger as she signed. 'Can I talk to Heidi alone?'
The girls nodded, then after Beth and Ricki gave their sister a hug and a kiss, they started walking toward the exit, then after they kissed and hugged their mother, they walked out.
Sara and Heidi looked at each other as she walked up to her daughter, then once she stood in-front of her, she cups her cheek and said. "You are so beautiful sweetie."
Heidi was wearing a white dress that had thin straps and went down to her knees, white sandals that went with them, her hair was in a updo and a touch of make-up on her face.
Heidi smiled and replied. "Thank you mom." She sighed before continuing. "I hope I can be a good wife."
Sara smiled a little. "A little nervous?" Heidi nodded, then Sara continued. "Don't worry, a lot of people get nervous before they get married."
"Even you?"
Sara chuckled a little. "Yes."
"But you knew it was the right thing, right?"
"Sweetie, besides having you and your siblings, marrying your father was the right and best thing I could have done in my life. Things won't always be easy or perfect, but as long as you two work out your problems, love and respect one another, then I don't see any reason it won't go the distance."
Heidi smiled and asked. "Like you and daddy?"
Sara was about to answer when they hear Grissom's voice. "Exactly."
They look in his direction and smiled at him as he walked up to two of his beautiful girls.
When he stopped in front of his daughter, Sara leans toward Heid's cheek and kissed her before saying. "I'll give you a few minutes alone with your father, I love you honey, and I am extremely proud of you."
"Thank you mom, I love you too."
After one more kiss to her daughter, Sara kissed her husband on the cheek before walking out of the tent.
When they were alone, he looked into those beautiful brown eyes of hers, then sighed and said. "As happy as I am that you found a good man to love, I'm a little sad that I'm losing another daughter today."
She smiled with tears in her eyes and said. "You still have one more."
He shook his head and replied. "I don't think for very long."
Heidi chuckled. "You see the looks too?"
"Yeah."
"You just always know, don't you daddy?"
He sighed again. "I didn't with you and Rick."
When Rick and Heidi finally told the family that they were a couple, they couldn't believe that they had been dating for five years, and the team couldn't help but laugh because they felt like it was payback for when him and Sara made jokes about them not finding out about their secret relationship.
"Sorry we waited so long to tell you, we were just afraid of what the family would say."
Grissom cups his daughter's cheek. "You don't have to be sorry sweetie, you guys did nothing wrong. As long as you two were happy with how you handled it, then that's your business, just know that you can come to me with anything." She nodded as a tear fell down her cheek, he wiped it away as he continued. "I know the issues you will face now will be bigger than kissing your owie's away, but I'm still your father and here for you, don't forget that."
She chuckled at the owie part, then got serious when she responded. "I'll never forget that." He smiled as he brings her closer to him, then kissed her cheek before bringing her in a hug.
When he pulled back, he speaks again. "I love you, sweetie. I'm also very proud of the woman you've become and your choice of life partner."
She smiled that 'Sara' smile before replying. "Thank you and I love you too." Then they hugged again.
As they were pulling apart, they hear a clearing of a throat, so they looked over in that direction and see Wyatt standing just inside the entrance.
He smiles at them before asking. "Can I have a moment alone with the Bride?"
Heidi nodded. "Of course, I always have time for my younger brother."
Heidi and her father look at each other again, then he said. "Send a messenger when you are ready."
"I will."
After one more kiss, Grissom walks toward the exit, and before he walks out, he pats his son on the shoulder.
He just got to the group when everybody heard, with the exception of Beth, Heidi squeal happily.
Everybody looked at each other, then Catherine asked. "Wonder what that was about."
Grissom answered. "I have no idea, but I'm sure we'll find out soon."
Greg replied. "Or five years from now, right?"
Everybody chuckled as Grissom looked at his wife and asked. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
Sara nodded as she slipped her hand into his. "Sorry babe, you did." He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
When he pulled back, they looked into each other's eyes before looking at the group in the circle, which they were looking at them, so they spoke at the same time. "What?"
They all smiled, then Catherine answered. "After all this time, I can't think of two people who are meant to be together than you guys."
They all nodded in agreement, including the couple themselves.
10 minutes later
When it was finally time, everybody sat down in their seats, which every seat was taken except one, but that was done on purpose because it was reserved for the father of the groom. He may not physically be there with them, but he was always with them in spirit.
After Grissom walked his daughter down the aisle, he gave her hand over to Rick's and kissed her cheek before walking to the first seat in the front row. As he sat down, he took Sara's hand, then he watched the happy couple say their vows with a smile on his face.
As Rick and Heidi were saying their vows their minds go back to his proposal.
Flashback
February 14, 2035
A little over a year ago
While seated in the secluded section of the restaurant, Heidi picks up her water and took a sip before putting it back down on the table and looking at her watch. She had been sitting here for twenty minutes waiting on Rick to show up for their date. He had called earlier and told her that he was working a double, so he might be a little late. She told him that they could have the date a different night, even though it was Valentines day, but he declined saying that she took today off for this date and he didn't know when she could take the next one off, so knowing he was right, she just smiled over the phone and told him to come when he could.
Right as she was looking up, she sees Rick coming her way with a smile, and she smiled back.
When he was closer to her, he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek before he sat down across from her and saying. "Hi baby."
"Hi, so I take it shift was rough?"
He took a breath and said. "Yes."
She gave him a sympatric smile, then they picked up their menus to look over the meals, which she couldn't help but see a lot of them were vegetarian, so she had a smile on her face that he picked this place out. She wasn't a pure vegetarian like her mother, but if it was offered among the meat dishes then she would pick it over them, just like she did when she was younger.
After they ordered, they did a little small talk, then did the same thing in-between bites when their food came.
As they were finishing dinner it became silent between them, and that kind of made her a little nervous, because it shifted so suddenly.
She watched him finish his last bite of steak before putting his fork and knife on the plate, then when he was picking up his glass of wine, she thought she saw his hand shake a little, so she puts her utensils in her empty plate and asked. "Are you ok? You seem a little nervous about something."
Rick nodded as he placed his glass back down on the table, then spoke after clearing his throat. "I'm fine." Heidi raised an eyebrow as he continues before she could speak. "In fact these last nine years with you being my girlfriend has been fine, but I've been thinking, I don't want you to be my girlfriend anymore."
Heidi gasped at that, then she started to have tears in her eyes as she replied. "Oh, ok, well then I..." She couldn't continue because she didn't know what to say, then she shook her head as she got out of her chair and started walking out of the restaurant with speed.
Rick sat there stunned at first, then he realized how he sounded and softly cursed as he stood up, and after tossing money on the table, he ran after her.
She had just gotten to her vehicle when it started to rain, which she thought. 'prefect.'
Just as she was opening the door a hand came and shut it, then she felt his hands on her shoulders before being turned around.
She was about to speak, but Rick speaks before she could. "That's not what I meant."
"What did you mean then?"
"Well I did mean that I didn't want you to be my girlfriend anymore, but it wasn't because I wanted to break up with you, it was because I wanted you to be my wife."
She gasped again. "What?"
He nodded as he replied. "I'm sorry I started the proposal like that, I just got so nervous and wanted to throw you off guard."
She shook her head. "Well you definitely did that, so you really don't want to break up with me?"
He stepped back a little, put his hand in his pocket, pulled out a ring box and opened it, revealing a 2-carat, silver diamond ring, and said. "Never Heidi.
I want you as my wife, I want to grow old with you, I want to have children with you, I want to love you for the rest of my life. So will you do me the greatest honor of my life by marrying me?"
She smiled with tears in her eyes as rain still came down on them. "One condition, we change the story on how you proposed."
He chuckles as he takes the ring out of the box, and as he took her left hand, he said. "Deal." Then he looked into her eyes and asked again. "So, will you marry me?"
She smiled again, nodded and replied. "Yes."
After slipping the ring on her finger, he brings her closer to him and kissed her, which she kissed him back.
When they stopped kissing, he kisses her on the forehead, then pulls back enough to look into her eyes. "I love you Heidi Grissom, and I'm sorry..."
She cuts him off. "It's ok, I love you anyways, Rick Brown."
He smiled as they kissed each other in the rain again, happy that this beautiful woman was marrying him, but also wanting to slap himself for almost ruining it.
As she wrapped her arms around her fiancé, she felt her heart soar. When she had walked out of the restaurant, she thought she was losing him, but it turned out she gets to keep him for life, and that's exactly what she wanted since the first time they kissed.
End of Flashback
They smiled at each other as their thoughts came back to the present, both knowing they were thinking the same thing.
Rick still couldn't believe that he screwed up on the proposal, he knew he was on lucky guy that night, and the moment the minister told him he may the kiss the bride, he knew he'll be the luckiest man in the world for the rest of his life.
As they kissed, everybody stood up and cheered for the newlywed couple, and BreAnna wiped a tear away, happy for her son and knowing Warrick would've done the same thing with a smile on his face, not caring who saw.
AN: Hope you liked the pairing and chapter. I guess I should let you guys know there are 2 chapters left. Please review.
