A/N: Thank you to everyone reading and letting us hear from you! Happy New Year!

FOLD

Chapter 18

Somewhere in the house, a clock chimed midnight. Gil Grissom's eyes met and held his wife's as she moved quietly to the bed. Her smile broadened when she saw the silver wrapped candy on her pillow. Perfectly placed in the center, the same kind of candy had appeared on her pillow for years, not in any predictable pattern.

"How did this get on my pillow?" Laughing softly, Sara picked up the chocolate by its paper plume, swinging it in her fingers. "How—why—does this happen? And always only one!" She pulled the strip of paper to pop the candy from its silver paper. She giggled, saying, "One silver bell."

Grissom laughed. "Kisses—it's a chocolate kiss." He walked away from the baby's temporary bed and pulled her into his arms, he said, "We've had a long day—and another one coming up."

Holding the piece of candy between her fingers, appearing to closely examine it, Sara said, "When did this happen the first time? And how does it appear like magic? Who keeps just one silver bell—also known as kisses—around to put it on a pillow?"

Laughing again, Grissom kissed her forehead as she popped the chocolate into her mouth. "Before I had kids, I never thought about them needing quiet time before going to sleep," he said.

Talking around the candy and ignoring what his words, Sara said, "Just one—you'd think that one day there would be two—so I could share—or four pieces so we'd each have two. Two each would be good." Looking at him with laughing eyes, she put her arms around his neck. "And we need to sleep! Tomorrow will arrive early."

Keeping arms around each other, they moved to the bed, sort of tumbled into the fluffy bedding, softly laughing as they settled into the middle of it.

Sara snuggled against her husband's shoulder, whispering, "Will and Jay will be here in two hours."

"They promised they'd stay in their beds tonight—and they are worn out—surely, they will sleep late." He nestled her closer, saying, "If Ellie wakes, I'll bring her to bed—then we'll all sleep longer. She certainly charmed everyone in the house—when she laughs, I hear your laugh." Softly, he chuckled. "I didn't think Jim could be more smitten than he was with Jay and Will, but he's love-stuck—head over heels—with Ellie. It's—it's good to see him be so happy.

"And who gets married on Christmas Eve? Of all the days of the year? Why Christmas Eve?"

He paused to kiss the top of her hair and smiled at the wisp of a snore that broke the silence. With a silent chuckle, he pulled the downy bed covers up and settled in, entwining his legs with Sara's.

Hours later, Sara woke to the touch of small fingers on her arm and the whisper of one word. "Mommy." She reached to boost the little boy into the high bed, automatically reaching for the second one after Jay had crawled over her.

"Our beds got cold," one said in a whisper.

"It's quiet and I heard funny noises," the second one added.

With a quiet laugh, Sara said, "Well, we can make our own funny noises in here."

The bed covers moved as Grissom tucked his sons between then. He said, "Let's don't make any noise yet—Ellie is still asleep."

It was amazing to Sara how fast everyone went back to sleep. She lay awake for several minutes thinking about her amazing life. She and Grissom had never regretted bringing their children into their bed realizing the little children would grow up quickly.

A while later, she woke again from an immediately forgotten dream, remembered where she was, and felt the warmth of Will's body next to hers. Hearing the slow rhythmic breathing around her, she slowly sat up and from the faint light, she could see her daughter curled in the crib. A feeling of ease suffused her as she lapsed back into dreamless sleep.

The next time she woke up, Sara knew it was early morning by the brightness reflecting around the draperies. She sat up before realizing Grissom was standing in the doorway of the darkened bathroom. There was something about the way he looked at her that made her smile; then, he mouthed her a kiss. There was something so erotic about the gesture that she was instantly aroused. Sliding from beneath the covers, she tiptoed to him, picking up a stuffed toy that had been left on the floor and placing it in the baby's bed.

In silence, Grissom closed the door before turning on lights—accents lights at the edge of the ceiling. He said, "I think we have thirty minutes…"

His hands laced into her hair as a flush of sensation spread through her. He kissed her neck, all the way around her neck, a necklace of kisses that barely brushed her flesh. Pushing her shirt up with his hands until his thumbs rested on the curve of each breast, she thought she heard him say "Let's take this off," but she wasn't sure if he'd spoken or she thought it.

By the time her pajama bottoms were off, the shower was steaming and felt like soothing silk as she stepped into it. Without a word, he leaned over and kissed her, a passionate kiss that made each intake of air send a plum of sensation straight down between her legs.

As soon as he was in the shower, they came together, making intricate and automatic adjustments so Sara could receive him while she was braced against the tile wall. Her knees were wobbly; her pelvis made deep arcing motions, urging him on as a sweet moan came from her mouth and then, very quickly, came the powerful explosion of her orgasm; for a moment, she lost contact with her surroundings. Then she felt him come, too, the muscles of her vagina squeezed and pressed around him as a smooth tongue of rapture flooded her body.

Her head was pressing against the tiles when he pulled away. "I'm sorry," he said. "I couldn't hold off…I…"

Smiling, she shook her head and placed a finger on his lips. She felt like a wet pool, slick inside and out. She loved the way he looked standing naked with steam coming off his skin. Leaning into him, she kissed him slowly touching his teeth with fleeting strokes of her tongue.

His response was to run his fingers along her spine until he reached her bottom; his hands cupped up, lifting her on her toes, kissing her until they needed to breathe. His body was warm, smooth, and firm against her skin.

For a while, they stood underneath the shower, water cascading over shoulders and making rivulets and streams before pooling at their feet. Grissom reached for soap and lathered her up, meticulously covering her body. Several times he kissed her in places that brought a soothing rush of pleasure. At some point, she did the same to him and during the entire time, neither spoke a word but murmured sounds of pleasure and contentment.

When both were thoroughly clean as well as sexually satisfied, Grissom turned off the water and reached for towels and a thick terrycloth robe. He said, "This was very delightful—we need a bigger shower at home—with a bench."

With a giggle, Sara said, "At home, we can leave evidence of sex anywhere—here—at least it's washed away in the shower!" She put on the robe and wrapped her hair with a towel as Grissom stood naked, open mouth.

After a long moment, he said, "You don't think? She wouldn't?"

"No—I don't." She laughed, "Catherine has known for years that we have great sex, and—anyway, we don't have room in that bed, do we? Not with two squirmy little tots crawling in with us at two in the morning."

As Grissom wrapped a giant-sized towel around his waist and towel dried his hair, he asked, "Who gets married on Christmas Eve?" Before Sara could answer, he saw the door crack open and said, "We have company."

Sara stepped to the door and kneeled to eye level of a four year old. She said, "Who is peeping in the door? Did you knock?"

One blue eye moved up and down. The little boy said, "I need to use the bathroom."

Sara opened the door finding two little boys standing shoulder to shoulder. "Come in." Both rushed passed her as laughter filled the room.

Grissom pointed to the toilet hidden behind a mirrored door.

A high pitched voice said, "Look, Will—the potty has its own room!"

Tilting his head in the direction of the boys, Grissom said, "Maybe we need a room like that."

The sound of playful giggles caused him to shake his head, saying, "Maybe we don't. Leave the door open, boys." Walking to the cubicle, he said, "Use the toilet, wash your hands and let's get dressed."

When he turned, Sara, standing in the middle of the room, licked her puffy bottom lip and pointed a finger toward the bedroom. She said, "I'll get the other one up." She smiled, adding, "Just remember—sometimes quick and fast is—delightful."

A/N: We appreciate hearing from you! We've decided to add 2 more chapters-total of 20 chapters-to celebrate the new year (2020) and 20 years after the Pilot!

Now-send us a review!