Summary: While in Vegas, visiting Baby Austin for the first time, Sara misses the kids, and despite wanting this time to be alone with his wife, Grissom does something pretty special so she didn't have to, but when she found out it was really his idea, it causes her to have a hard look at what she was doing on this trip, so she wants to make it up to him. Will she succeed?

Genre: Romance, Comfort, Family, Friendship
Rating: T
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Implied adult behavior
Main Parings: GSR
Minor Parings: Nick/Diana, Greg/Morgan
Other Characters: Grissom kids, Andrew, Carly, Courtney

Chapter 20: Lucky to have him

June 12, 2017

After having the other family members over at the house for a birthday celebration for Isabella, who turned 3 today, William, who has slowly gotten back to his old self, or as close to his old self as Sara and Grissom felt he would get, went over to the Brown residence to hang out with Rick, while the rest of the Grissom family, plus Andrew, who wanted to stay over for a sleepover, had a little family time before it was bed time.

While Sara was in Katie's room getting her ready for bed, and once Grissom tucked in Andrew then Isabella in her bed, the young girl asked with a smile. "Daddy, can you read us a story tonight?"

Grissom smiled before asking Andrew. "Is that what you want too?"

Andrew nodded with a smile as he clapped his hands. "Please?"

Grissom nodded as walked towards the bookshelf, and after grabbing one, he sits down on the side of the bed before he starts reading to them, the kid's attention right on him.

Once Katie's diaper was changed and she was in her ladybug, footie pajamas, Sara picked her up with a smile. "Aren't you my pretty little girl." She then held her in arms and bent down to kiss her forehead, making her giggle, then as Sara was pulling back, her phone was buzzing, so she smiled and said. "I guess you're saved by the phone call." She kneeled down and placed Katie on the floor before she checked her phone to see it was Nick, so she sits down in the rocking chair while answering her phone. "Hey, what's going on?"

About 10 minutes later, Grissom closed the book with a smile, seeing the now sleeping children, then he bent down and kissed his daughter's temple and whispered. "Happy Birthday, butterfly. Daddy loves you so much."

He gets up, puts the book back on the shelf before heading towards the door, and after looking back towards the bed one more time, he turns the light out, causing her butterfly nightlight to come on, before walking out of the room and closing the behind him then headed down the hall to Katie's room, stopping in the doorway of the room, and as Sara was finishing up her phone call with Nick, Grissom kneeled down and smiled at his youngest, who was facing him while laying on her stomach on the floor.

"Ok, we'll let you know...I'll tell her you wished her a happy birthday...Thanks for calling...Yeah, Bye." After she hung up, she smiled at her husband. "They believe little Austin will be born within the week."

Grissom nodded, but then before any more discussions about the topic continued, Grissom looked wide-eyed as he said. "Uh Sara?"

She looked concerned then turned her head and gasped a little, seeing their youngest child crawling towards her father while she was giggling, and Sara went into action, recording every moment until their little girl reached her father, which he picked her up with a smile and kissed her cheek. "Well done, ladybug. It looks like we have a new crawler on our hands now."

As happy as Sara was about their youngest child's accomplishment, she spoke softly. "Then before long she'll start walking, then going to school, then..."

Grissom stands up with Katie in his arms, cutting her off with a smirk. "Uh ooh, Katie, mommy's doing it already. Fast traveling you to adulthood before you even reach 1."

Sara mocked glared her husband and said with a smile. "Oh shut up, I'm just having a moment. I'm allowed to have them, I'm her mother."

He chuckles while stopping in front of her chair and lowers their daughter down so Sara could give her a kiss goodnight on the cheek. "I love you honey, have a goodnight's rest."

Once Katie was closer to his chest, Grissom walked towards the crib, then stopped before looking down at his little girl with sparkling blue eyes. "You're going to be a very special girl, aren't you? Well, I should say more special than you already are."

Sara, who had gotten up from her seat, walked up to her husband and daughter, whispering. "What do you expect, she's part Grissom."

Grissom smiled a little wider at the comment before he bends down and kisses her forehead. "I love you, ladybug, sleep tight tonight."

After placing her down in her crib, and making sure she was covered enough, they both recited one of their children's books that they knew from memory by now until she fell asleep, which they watched her in silence for a few moments before heading towards the door and walking out after turning the light out, then cracked the door before walking across the hall to their bedroom, where they got ready for bed.

Once they were settled in bed, and while she had her head laying on his chest, he asked while wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "So, do you want to go?"

A little confused, she asked. "Go?"

"To Vegas when little Austin arrives." Before Sara could respond he continued. "We can ask Catherine if she could take all three kids, or let her have William and ask Carly if she wants Isabella while Katie can go to Ryan's."

Sara furrowed her brows as she asked. "You don't want to take the kids?"

He sighed, knowing he'll miss the kids too, but he was thinking more about how Nick and Diana could feel. "I just think that them being first time parents I don't want to overwhelm them more than they have to be with a bunch of kids all at once right now." Sara thought that Grissom did have a good point, but she was still a little unsure, then he spoke with a little more passion as he moved them so he was looking down at her. "I mean think about it, when was the last time it was just us on a vacation?"

Sara's body was responding to him with his words and passionate look, then she spoke after clearing her throat. "I guess it has been awhile."

He smiled, making her heart race even more. "So?"

Seeing he was getting a little more excited at the prospect of them spending a few days with it just them, outside of when they are visiting their friends/family of course, Sara couldn't help but nod with a smile. "Ok, we'll see who wants to watch the kids for a few days."

He smiled wider. "Thank you."

Before she could respond, he bends down and starts kissing her, which she reciprocated instantly, getting lost in each other's hurried kisses and touches just in case they get interrupted.

Three days after baby Austin was born, Sara and Grissom headed to the airport to go to Vegas after dropping their kids off with Catherine and Warrick, which while they were to be the main babysitter, Carly, and Ryan did offer to watch them if they need the relief.

And after two days in Vegas, while Grissom knew Sara was making a strong effort on trying to enjoy their time together, even during their alone/romantic time, he could tell that she was distracted, missing the kids, so on the third morning that they were away from them, he made a phone call, and later that evening as Sara and Grissom were visiting the Stokes family, which Greg and Morgan were also there, there was a knock on the door, and with a smile, knowing who would be at the door, Diana asked. "Hey Sara, do you mind getting it?"

Sara shook her head with a smile of her own as she got up from the love seat she was sitting on next to her husband. "Not at all."

When she got to the door, she opened it before gasping when both Isabella and William shouted. "Mommy!"

With tears in her eyes she took Isabella from Carly's arms and hugged her while William was hugging her, then when Isabella shouted. "Daddy!" Sara turned around and handed her off to him before taking Katie from Courtney's arms, still speechless that they were here.

After several minutes, once everybody was inside the house, Sara finally spoke with emotion. "Thank you, you two didn't have to do this."

Carly waved it off with a smile. "It's ok, I knew how much you might have missed them."

About 30 minutes later, once everybody was settled and most of the attention was on the two youngest, Carly and Grissom were in the kitchen getting drinks, and Grissom cleared his throat and said. "Thanks Carly, I really appreciate you doing this."

When Grissom had called her to ask if she could bring the kids, Carly didn't hesitate, even though her trip coming here was a little earlier than she had planned, she didn't mind, especially because she was doing something special for her friends and got this extra time to spend with just her daughter, time she didn't get much these days.

Carly smiled with a nod. "It was no problem." Grissom nodded as he want to the fridge, and as he opened the door, she continued after clearing her throat. "And it just proves to me, once again, how Sara could have fallen in love with you."

Grissom shook his head. "Carly, it was no..."

But she cuts him off as she moved closer to him. "Don't say it was nothing, you don't think I know how much you wanted this time to be just for you and Sara? But you sacrificed what you wanted to make her happy."

Before Grissom could speak, they hear Sara gasp and her soft voice from the doorway, making them turn around so they were looking at her. "This was your idea?"

Then with tears in her eyes, she turned and walked out of the room, and Grissom looked at Carly, who was giving him a an apologetic look, but he just shook his head and placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it before walking out, and when he saw Greg and Nick pointing towards the back deck, Grissom nodded while William stood up and asked in a concerned tone. "Daddy?"

Grissom gave his son a reassuring smile. "Everything will be ok, buddy."

The little boy still had a concerned look on his face, but nodded, trusting his father to fix whatever was going on with his mother.

When Grissom stepped out on the outside back deck, he saw Sara standing close to the corner, away from the doors and windows, and as he got closer to her, she whispered. "I'm sorry."

Grissom shook his head. "Sara, you have nothing to..."

She cuts him off, while looking at him, which when she did, he could tell her eyes were watering. "You bet I do.
You do so much for the kids and I, sometimes more than your share and I couldn't give you a few days just the two of us, without me thinking about how much I missed our kids every second."

Grissom stopped in front of his wife and cupped her cheek, and while wiping her tears away he looked at her with love and sympathy. "Honey, you're their mother, of course I don't expect you to not think about our kids when we are away, especially when we are in another state, and you know I missed them too."

She nodded, she knew how much he loved their kids, how he would give them the moon and stars if he could, then she replied while sniffling. "Yeah, but we are more than parents, and we promised we would have a little time to ourselves, really connect like we use to, something I know we haven't really done in the last seven months."

He gives her a little smile as he replied. "A new baby requires a few more sets of juggling balls and a little more patience, it happens, we'll get there again." He took a breath then finished. "And maybe I should apologize a little too."

"Griss..."

He cuts her off. "It took you four years to even fill somewhat comfortable leaving our son for a few nights for the first time, and that was mostly because it was work related, and close to that when it came to Isabella. I shouldn't have expected any differently with Katie, especially considering she's our youngest and last one." Sara looked down, feeling even more sad than she was before, then Grissom lifted her chin up and cupped her cheek again before continuing with his eyes bright. "You're an amazing mother, I love how you are with them, that's one of the many things I love about you."

She sniffled as she replied while cupping his cheek. "And you know how much I love you too, right? That none of this is possible without you."

Grissom nodded, clearing his throat from emotion. "I know."

She smiled as she ran her thumb up and down his cheek. "Good, because I do, so much." They then shared a kiss and hug, which while they were in a hug, she spoke again. "Now let me make it up to you."

As they pulled back, Grissom started to speak. "Sara, you don't hav..."

But she cuts him off. "I want to, please?"

Not able to resist the pleading look, he nodded with another smile. "Ok."

"Alright, just give me a few moments." Grissom nodded one more time while Sara thought about it, then after a few minutes, she smiled. "I got it, I'm going to get a few things, then I'll text you where to go."

Sara moved towards the door like she was on a mission, while he turned around and said. "Sara..."

But she cuts him off with a smile. "Trust me."

He just nodded with a smile, while she nodded back before she continued her steps towards the door and inside the house, and he shook his head with the smile still on his face, wondering what his wife was up to.

Not long after Grissom had left, once he had gotten Sara's text, Nick, Carly, and Diana were in the kitchen cooking up dinner while Courtney was playing with William and Isabella as Greg was holding Katie and Morgan was holding Austin, and after a moment of silence as they looked at the babies in their arms, Greg said. "Moments like this almost makes you want to have one of these."

Morgan looked at her husband asked with a shocked look. "What are you saying? Are you ready to have kids?"

He looked up from Katie and asked with a smile. "Why, are you?"

She then smirked. "I asked you first."

Greg took a moment before he replied with another smile. "I think I'm ready to discuss it a little more."

Morgan nodded with another smile of her own. "I am too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

They leaned toward one another and shared a soft kiss before he whispered. "I love you, Morgan Sanders."

"And I love you, Greg Sanders."

After one more kiss their attention went back to the babies in their arms.

Once they had their picnic, which was Chinese take out from their favorite restaurant they used to like when they lived here, they moved the boxes and bag off the blanket she borrowed from Nick and Diana before they laid down and looked up at the stars, then he looked over at her and asked. "So, why did you pick this place?"

She looked over at him and smiled. "When you brought me here, on our third date, you said this was the best place to stargaze."

Grissom turned on his side, placed his elbow down on the blanket before placing his head on the palm of his hand, then cupped her cheek with his other one and smirked. "And I believe, at a crime scene no-less, you said something about a good make-out place?"

She chuckled as she cupped his cheek. "What can I say, I was only stating the truth, I learned something on that third date."

He raised an eyebrow as he asked. "Which was?"

Sara brings his face down to hers and whispered. "Just how amazing kisser you really were." Before he could say anything, her lips were on his.

While, before that third date, their kisses weren't lacking anything, they still felt they were a little tentative, then as they looked at the stars on that third date, something snapped inside of them, they let go whatever restraints they had and started kissing like they never kissed one another before, and even though they didn't go beyond kissing that night, they knew it was a turning point in their relationship, more than when he first asked her to start over, or when they became an official couple, even their first date. That's when they knew all they had to do was work together in this relationship and just be themselves, then they would be fine. Of course it did take a little extra work, especially during the first few months, trying to learn about one another on a completely different level while keeping their relationship hidden.
But eventually they got it, and now, despite a few missteps here or there, they are stronger than ever before.

After several minutes they slowed down on their kissing, and after one more peck on the lips, he moved his lips to her forehead and kissed it softly before moving so he was laying back down, then she smiled as she laid her head on his chest, hearing his heartbeat slowing down, before grabbing his hand, sighing in content. "You know if there was one thing I do miss about Vegas, outside of the guys of course, it would be that we can't relieve moments like this. I mean Vegas is where we got our true start, and as bad as the bad moments were, we had a lot of good ones too, especially after we became a couple, like this one."

He nodded with a smile as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders with a sigh. "Yeah, I know what you mean."

They laid there for about another hour and a half, which some of that time was spent talking/laughing while other times they were silent, but either way, they were enjoying these moments together, then when they got back to the vehicles (Carly's rental and theirs), and had placed the items in the rented vehicle they had gotten for them, Sara took his hand and spoke softly. "Now, if you'll follow me, I want to relieve another moment." She then chuckled. "It can't be in the same place for obvious reasons." She finished with passion in her eyes. "But there was a particular first time I quite enjoyed that I don't remind relieving anywhere."

Even though he knew what she was talking about, and he wanted it too, he asked after clearing his throat. "What about the kids?"

She cupped his cheek, knowing why he was asking before replying. "The kids will be fine, they are in good hands." Then she shyly continued. "Not that they weren't before, but..."

He cuts her off with a smile. "Believe me, I feel more relieved that they are closer to us too." He took a breath and finished. "So, if you're really..."

She cuts him off as she stood closer to him. "I'm sure, I just want my husband, the man that I love, with me tonight." She cupped his cheek as she whispered softly. "Let me show you how much I really love you and appreciate everything you do for our family."

Seeing no doubts or hesitations, only love and desire, he nodded before moving his face towards her, which she followed him in the middle so they could share a kiss, and after they pulled back, he whispered. "I love you, Sara Grissom."

"And I love you Gilbert Grissom."

Later that evening

Not long after Greg and Morgan left the Stokes residence, Diana called it a night, so after Nick kissed his family goodnight, she went upstairs with Austin while he stayed in the living room with Carly, Courtney and the Grissom kids, who were staying the night, much to the insistence they got from him and Diana.

About another hour passed, and they could tell the kids were getting tired, so while Courtney took all three upstairs to get them ready for bed, Carly and Nick grabbed blankets and pillows from the downstairs closet so they could make 'beds' on the couch, love seat and floor, and as they were finishing up, Carly looked at Nick with a smile on her face. "You have a beautiful family, Nick. That little boy of yours is already a charmer."

As she walked past him, he placed his hand on her waist to stop her before cupping her cheek and whispering. "And you have a beautiful family too." He took a breath and continued. "Just know that what I had felt for you was real, you had meant something more to me."

Carly nodded. "I know, I felt it too. But things happened the way they were suppose to, you know that, right?"

He nodded before bringing her in his arms. "I know, but that didn't mean I never missed you after you left."

She ran her hand up and down his back. "I've missed you too, and I know I've said his before, but thank you for being a friend when I needed one the most."

"Always."

After they pulled back, they smiled at one another before they said goodnight, then Nick headed upstairs, and a few moments later, Courtney and the kids made it back downstairs.

Things for the most part with the Grissom kids, while their parents were gone, was pretty good throughout the evening, especially with them being distracted with the baby, but now that there were less distractions and it was time for bed, one child felt the loss more than the other two since she always got a bedtime story before she went to sleep.

When Isabella started crying for her mommy and daddy, Carly asked the sad child. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

She sniffled. "It's story time, and mommy and daddy aren't here."

She understood while her parents were away from her why she couldn't get her story time from them, but now that they were together again, she didn't.

Then Carly asked. "Oh, well, can I read to you?"

She shook her head, sobbing again. "No! Mommy & Daddy!"

Mother and daughter looked at another, torn on what to do, not wanting to ruin their time alone, but also knowing it was going to be a long night if they didn't do something, then William spoke to his little sister. "What about me, Izzie? Can I read to you?"

Isabella thinks about it for a second, then nodded with a sniffle. "Ok."

Carly smiled at the young boy. "Thank you, William." He nodded with a smile and went to get his book from his backpack while Carly tucked Isabella in on the couch.

A moment later, William gets back to the couch and Isabella scooted as far back as she could before patting the empty spot. "Here Brofther." William nodded before he sits down next to her and started reading while Carly and Courtney looked on with pride.

Once Isabella had fallen asleep, and instead of going on the other end of the couch, he just scoots down and falls asleep next to his younger sister, wrapping his arm around her. Then Carly kissed Katie, who was also asleep, before putting her in the bassinet that Nick and Diana let them borrow, and once she was settled, Carly and Courtney headed towards the kitchen to get some water, and they weren't in there very long before Courtney smirked. "So, you and Nick?"

Carly looked at her daughter with shock before she shook her head with a smile. "It never went there, it has always been your father."

She smirked again. "Except the 18 years when it wasn't."

Carly nodded. "But he was always in my heart, and ultimately I couldn't go there with Nick because he's the type of guy who deserves a woman would could give him her whole heart, not a piece of it."

Courtney nodded in understanding before asking. "So, what your saying is if you had met him in a different time in your life, there could have been something more between you too?"

"Maybe, but you, your brothers and father mean everything to me, so to think of a life without you guys in it is too imaginable to think about."

Courtney hugged her mother and whispered. "I love you mom, and I'm glad you had a little happiness when you were here. I would love to hear more about your time in Vegas."

"I love you too, and I would love to tell you."

After they pulled back, they headed back to the living room so they could try and get some rest.

Next Morning

Before the kids and Nick was awake, Carly walked into the kitchen to see Diana getting breakfast and coffee ready for the guests, they share a small smile and a 'good morning', then Carly asked. "Anything I can help you with?"

Diana nodded. "Can you get the eggs, please?"

Carly nodded in return, then while she was walking towards the fridge, Diana's voice was heard again, more softer this time. "So, how far did things get between you and Nick?"

While Nick was very honest how he felt about the other woman, Diana never really heard any details, and she couldn't really explain why she was bringing it up now, when she had so many other chances before.

Carly detoured her steps and stopped in front of Diana and spoke with a reassuring tone. "Diana, nothing ever happened between Nick and I."

The other woman started to have tears in her eyes as replied. "That's almost worse, because now there is this 'what if' hanging around, and in any..."

Carly cuts her off. "Nothing will ever happen between us because your husband loves you more than any woman he's ever loved, he looks at you like I've never seen him look at another woman before." She then smirked, trying to lighten the other woman's tension. "You're stuck with him, so if you're looking to get out, it's not possible, he'll follow you to the ends of earth if he has to."

There was a short pause before Diana started to chuckle with a nod. "You're right." Carly nodded with a smile before Diana took a breath and shook her head, ashamed of how she just acted. "I'm sorry, I'm usually more together than this."

Carly nodded in understanding. "You just had a baby, you're a first time mother, and your hormones are still all over the place, just know that you have nothing to ever worry about with him. He chose to spend his life with you, and he wouldn't take that choice lightly."

Diana nodded with a smile, believing her words, while already knowing that deep down in her heart. "Thank you."

As Carly nodded one more time with a smile, there was a knock on the door, then about a minute later, they hear William and Isabella shout. "Mommy, daddy!"

While they group was sitting down eating breakfast, Carly, who was sitting next to Sara, whispered. "So, mission accomplished last night?"

Sara nodded with a smile and bright eyes. "Yes, in every way imaginable."

Carly chuckled with a nod, getting the full meaning. "Nice." Then after taking a sip of her coffee she finished with. "Now, can I remind you how lucky you are to have him in your life?"

Sara then turned her attention to her husband, who was feeding Katie, while splitting his time trying to give both William and Isabella his attention with a smile and bright eyes, like he was on top of the world, yes she knew exactly how lucky she was to have this wonderful man in her life, and she was going to tell him, even though he's already heard it plenty of times by now, any chance she got.

When he felt her eyes on him, they have eye contact, showing their love for one another before her attention was turned to someone else around the table while his went back to their kids.

It may have not been the trip either one thought it would be like, but they couldn't complain about the end result, their love and marriage only got stronger because of it.

AN: Hope you liked it, more to come soon. Thanks for reading, and please review.