A/N: Hi guys. I hope everyone has had a nice Christmas :) New chapter afoot and time for a little remembering. Thought it would be nice adding a little of the past into the mix.

Always, thank you for the reviews and thoughts and to calim for your amazing help and friendship.

On we go…

Chapter 49

Early evening was drawing in when Catherine dropped Grissom and Sara home. And Grissom was fussing.

Sara found it amusing at first. Grissom, when he was lovingly concerned, was adorable. To a point. And he'd just about breeched that point when if he asked her if she was feeling okay one more time, she'd probably throw something at him.

When they got home, Grissom ordered take out just to make life easier and Sara took a bath which helped ease the pain in her back. A pain in her neck developed with Grissom poking his head around the door every five minutes to check on her. He looked quite startled when she launched the wet bath sponge at him and told him to go away.

Now, dinner eaten, Sara sat by the fireplace while Grissom put the dishes away after washing them. It usually took him a while, but it was good exercise for his hands.

"Can I get you anything?"

Looking up from the flames, Sara smiled at her husband. "No, I'm good thanks."

"You're feeling oka…."

In a shot, Sara held up a hand and Grissom stopped talking. "Please, Gil. If you ask me one more time if I'm okay I think my head is going to explode."

His eyebrow soared. Shaking her head, Sara got up. Dropping her arms over his shoulders, she felt her belly bump against his and looked down with a giggle.

"I think one of us will need bigger pants soon." Raising her head, she looked into his eyes as he smiled. "I really am fine, babe, okay? I know it's hard not to worry, especially lately, and I really, really appreciate your concern and love but trust the doctor and trust me."

Grissom let out a soft sigh and nodded. "Okay. I just feel…more worried than I normally would."

"After what you've been through that's natural," Sara answered, fiddling with his shirt collar. "Just try not to worry too much." He nodded again and she gently kissed his lips. "It does make a change that it's not me fussing over you though."

"I can create a scene if you'd like," he challenged.

"Don't you dare," she warned playfully as he smirked. "So, you up to a little decorating?"

"Umm. Not to worry," Grissom began, "but aren't you supposed to be taking it easy?"

"I am. Putting a few decorations up isn't exactly taxing. Plus, I'll let you do all the heavy lifting." He gave her a perplexed look and she snickered. "Trust me, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Sighing happily as she lay with her husband on the sofa, Sara softly stroked his right hand as her eyes wandered around their now Christmassy looking living room. It wasn't as bad as she'd expected without any lights. In fact, it looked a little classier and a lot less like Vegas which was nice.

"Looks so much more festive don't you think?"

"I'm ready to put the suit on and jump down the chimney," Grissom replied with a slightly sarcastic tone.

Laughing, Sara poked him in the ribs and he squirmed. "Don't be like that."

"You of all people should know that I'm not overly festive."

Pushing herself up, she looked at him. "Until we got together."

Ah, yes. Sara had certainly added a little love for Christmas into his life…

December 24th 2005

Leaning against the doorframe to his office, she watched him. Shift was nearly over and they were about to spend their first big occasion together.

They'd been together for just under six months and Sara pinched herself every day that it had finally happened. Like properly – intimately. Before confessing to him about her mother she'd just about given up any hope of them ever getting together. But after that things changed. He changed. At least towards her.

Maybe telling him her true feelings in his office the week before or the trust she'd shown and the emotions she'd revealed when talking about her father's death, had stirred something in him. They'd grown closer after that and had spent more time together out of work with breakfast, dinner, walks and lots of talking. He was finally allowing the attraction he'd hidden for her to rise to the surface.

And then Adam Trent happened.

She always shivered a little bit at the thought of him. That exposed a side of Grissom she'd never really seen before. The fear in his eyes when that shiv was at her throat. She'd never forget that look. And when they'd left after the case was over, he was knocking at her apartment door. She'd never been gladder for the company and was thankful he hadn't just walked away, leaving her staring into that glass at the lab.

Things had really stepped up a notch that day. He'd stayed with her and they'd slept together. Not sex just together. She'd never thought holding a man would feel so good and when she woke up later that evening wrapped in his arms, it had felt so right. They'd shared their first kiss that evening. She could still remember how much her toes curled. So much she thought they might retreat into her foot.

She could never get enough of his lips. So warm, gentle, loving. She could still remember how fast her heart was beating when that kiss happened.

A few weeks later, Nick was kidnapped and that was the final jolt Grissom needed. Turning up at her apartment the day after things had settled down, she'd opened the door and he'd pushed her inside. Before she could get out a single word, he was glued to her face kissing her like his life depended on it.

Sara really didn't expect their first time to be as desperate as it was. Considering how long it had taken for them to get it on, she'd expected something slow and carefully planned out (at least on Grissom's part) but no. She'd lost count of how many walls they'd crashed into and things they'd knocked over as she'd tried to get him to the bedroom. It was one hell of a fuck that's for sure as Sara's own desperation reared its head. The cork on the bottle with five years of waiting on the label at last had popped.

Finally. (Thanks Nick.)

"Hey," she said, pushing from the door to step into the office.

Looking up, Grissom looked over his glasses at her then took them off. "Hey," he greeted in the usual flat Grissom tone.

Trying not show the beaming, giddy smile she was hiding, she worked her eyes over the small stack of paperwork before looking back at him.

"I need a ride home. Can you give me a lift?"

He stared at her for a moment before clearing his throat. She knew he wanted to say a lot more than lab etiquette would allow.

"Sure."

Only able to get out that one word they were interrupted by Catherine breezing her way in.

"Why am I not surprised you're still here," she said to her boss. "I thought you'd be way out the door as well," she threw at Sara.

Sara's eyebrows rose. "Grissom's my ride, so…"

Catherine carried on, looking at Grissom. "I'm still amazed you're taking Christmas off. Have you ever taken Christmas off?"

"Not for a while," Grissom admitted, putting his glasses in their case and dropping the case into his shirt pocket. "And thank you for covering."

"Hey, no problem," Catherine replied holding up a hand. "I always get it off, so it'll make a change to wake up without a hangover. Plus…" She shot Sara a look, "…if you're both off you must both have some pretty nifty plans."

"Maybe," Grissom said.

"That's it?" Catherine probed. "You're not going to tell?"

Grissom looked at her. "No."

Sara had to fight her smirk and almost coughed when Catherine looked at her. "How about you? All secretive as well?"

Letting out a light fake sigh, Sara shrugged her shoulders. "Not much to be secretive about," she lied. "You know me. I'm just looking forward to a little quiet time."

"You both need to get out more," Catherine suggested.

Lightly shaking her head, Sara held up a finger. "And on that note, I'll wish you a happy Christmas." She looked back at Grissom. "I have to get a few things from my locker. Meet you at the car?"

Grissom nodded and Sara smiled before leaving just hoping he wasn't going to be too long.

Leaning against the door of Grissom's Denali, Sara's heart kicked up a notch when he finally appeared and came walking towards her. Why did she suddenly feel nervous? Taking in a deep breath, she flashed him a smile when he reached her.

"She finally let you get away?" she teased.

Opening the back door, he dropped in his briefcase. "Catherine's never happy unless she thinks she knows everything about everybody."

"I'm glad she doesn't know everything about us," Sara replied.

Closing the door, he stared at her, his eyes becoming a little darker. "She knows nothing about us," he said with a hint of supremacy that sent a tingle down Sara's spine.

Looking around, Sara braved a step closer although she knew she shouldn't. "Hopefully it stays that way," she said.

Taking a quick look around, he slowly nodded. "Ready?"

"I've been ready since shift started."

Smiling, he moved around her and they both got into the car. As Grissom started the engine and pulled away, Sara dropped a hand to his knee and his eyes found hers for a second. She smiled lovingly and he returned the gesture.

"Three days away from here is going to be heaven," she said. "Especially because it's with you."

His smile grew as he concentrated on the road. "Do you need to stop by your place for anything?" he asked.

Sara thought for a moment. Not only about his question but about her apartment. The last month or so she'd barely even been there. If she wasn't at work then she'd spend most of the time at Grissom's and had all the essentials she needed at his place already. She'd only pop home to water the plants or maybe grab something extra special to wear if the occasion called for it.

"I don't think so," she answered. "Everything I need is pretty much sitting right next to me."

Present

"You may have helped me sway more to the celebratory side of things," he admitted.

Sara blinked, snapping from the memories at the sound of her husband's voice, her mind coming back to their conversation. "Rather than the religious one," she assumed.

He shrugged. "Faith in my religion faded a long time ago."

Feeling slightly sad at that comment, Sara retook his hand. "Not everything has to be doom and gloom."

"It doesn't," he thankfully agreed, placing his free hand on her belly. "Not anymore."

Sara smiled before giving him a long, slow kiss but sadly, the sound of a text coming through on her phone interrupted them. Pulling back, she sighed and pulled the device from the sofa arm.

"Catherine," she said, reading the message. "Wants to know if we've made a decision yet."

Grissom's jaw worked in a circle and Sara swung her legs over the edge of the sofa to make herself more comfortable. Sitting positions were certainly getting trickier especially when there was a man as bulky as Grissom under you.

"You don't want to go do you?"

"Am I that obvious?" he answered.

"I'd like to think I'm just a great observer and I know you."

He snorted then sighed before rubbing his chin. "I haven't left the house for a whole day since…I don't even know. Nothing against the company it's just the environment." Sara nodded as he talked. "So many things to consider. For one, how do we get there and back? I'm pretty sure both Greg and Catherine will be drinking."

Although Sara pretty much knew he'd made up his mind, she could try and persuade him. Just a little. "I…could drive."

"Really?" Grissom challenged. "After what you said about driving?"

Biting her lip, Sara let him have that one. She wasn't ready for that yet. Yes, Grissom had come a long way but if something happened while she was driving, especially on Christmas Day, ugh, she dreaded to think.

"Okay, what about a cab?"

"I'll sell a kidney to pay for it," he said.

"Very funny," Sara laughed. But again, he was right. A cab on Christmas day would be exorbitant. Money to burn wasn't an option at that point in time.

"And I'm really not trying to be negative," Grissom continued. "But what if I have a seizure? It's going to be so much harder to deal with than if we're here."

Sara's eyes worked in a circle. In all fairness he could have a seizure anywhere and she'd have to deal with it. She wasn't naive enough to think it would always happen in the comfort of their own home, but he didn't want to go. That much was obvious, so she wasn't going to push. It was supposed to be a celebratory day not an uncomfortable one.

"What if they come here," he then said.

Surprised by that, Sara tipped her head back. "Here?"

He shrugged. "Why not? At least then Catherine doesn't have to entertain Greg all by herself and we can all muck in together with dinner and stuff."

"Ah, I knew you loved a good basting." His eyebrows shot skywards making her smirk. "Are you okay with that though? Honestly?"

"Yeah," he said sincerely. "As long as you are."

"Well," she started, running her hands over his shoulders, "I won't deny I was looking forward to having you all to myself but it's okay with me as long as you're happy with it."

Nodding, he pulled her a little tighter against him. "I'll make sure you get me all to yourself for a good portion of the day."

"Will you now?"

"Oh, you can count on it."

Dropping her lips to his, she gave him a kiss and then smiled. "I'll call Catherine and see what she says then."

"Okay," he agreed. "You also need to let her know I'm with James before we go to the mall in the morning. We forgot to mention that."

"Oh, yeah," Sara replied, frowning and bringing up her cell phone. "Oddly I actually forgot about that."

"Considering your day, I'm not really surprised."

Smiling, she took his hand as she hit Catherine's number and sat with him on the sofa.

"Hey," Catherine answered. "How are you feeling?"

"Hi," Sara replied. "Feeling like I never want to be asked that question again."

Catherine laughed. "Has he been fussing?"

Sara's eyes flicked to her husband. "Just a little." Grissom's eyes narrowed at her and she smirked. "Hey, listen, about Christmas Day. How about you and Greg come to ours?"

"Easier for Gil?"

"You know us too well."

"I do try," Catherine answered. "It's fine. I'll let Greg know and how about we chat about it tomorrow? I'm sure you'd be happy for a bit of peace after your day."

"Truth," Sara agreed. "Oh, and Gil is seeing James before we go to the mall. Do you still want to tag with us or meet us there?"

"I'll come with you," Catherine said. "We can talk baby while Gil's with the doc."

"I'm sure that'll be fun."

Catherine laughed. "See you guys in the morning. Say goodnight to Gil and tell him to stop fussing."

"I'll do that," Sara agreed. "Night, Cath."

"Night."

Hanging up, Sara snorted and looked at her husband. "Catherine says stop fussing."

He leaned close to her. "What's it worth?"

Playfully narrowing her eyes at him, she pursed her lips. "How about a hefty poke in the ribs if you don't?"

"Meany," Grissom accused.

Laughing, Sara reached out, slid her fingers around his neck and pulled. Taking his lips to hers, she moaned into him as he met her gesture with a little more desperation than she was expecting. He certainly wasn't pushing her away that's for sure and a battle of tongues commenced leaving Sara breathless when she eventually and dreamily pulled away.

"Wow," she hummed, smiling and running a finger across his now redder bottom lip. "Blew my socks off."

As she removed her finger, he licked his lips. "I think today has made me a little… needy. Honestly, when you fell…"

In a flash, her finger was back over his lips and she shook her head. "Let it go," she said softly.

She didn't want to elaborate. He should know why. She'd said it enough times. As he nodded, she lowered her arms and held out her hand.

"Come on," she urged. "Show me exactly how needy you are."

A/N: Ha, it's almost Christmas, great timing huh? :P Will Christmas go well? Or should I get them an Evil Hat as a gift? Lol.