Summary: It's time for a few 'kids' to start on their next phase of their lives, which family will be saying their goodbyes?
Genre: Family, Friendship
Rating: K
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Main Parings: GSR
Minor Parings: Catherine/Warrick, Lindsey/Kyle
Other Characters: Cassandra Brown, Eli Brown, Grissom kids, (Others implied)
Chapter 27: Graduation and Goodbyes
June, 2024
While the immediate families were sitting more in the front, which among them happened to be Catherine, Warrick, Rick, Lindsey and Kyle, the rest of the extended families were sitting on the football bleachers, and among them were Sara and Grissom.
He heard a light sniffle, so he placed his hand on hers and whispered. "Are you thinking when this moment happens to our son?"
She shyly smiled as she whispered. "Maybe."
He just smiled and kissed her temple before his concentration went back to the stage, where Mrs. Davidson, now high school principle, was addressing the families and the soon to be 2024 graduates while Sara took a breath as she looked at their oldest child, who was sitting in the bleacher in front of them. It felt like every time she blinked he got older, and now he'll be a Sophomore in high school in the next school year.
She mentally shook her head and turned her attention back to the stage, looking forward to seeing the next family's 'kids' graduate, and she knew Catherine and Warrick might be feeling what she's feeling a little more since it was two of their children graduating today.
When it came to the valedictorian speech, the group/team cheered when they saw Cassandra walk up to the podium.
She took a moment to gather her thoughts as everybody started to calm down, then she started with a well received joke about her family before she went on with the rest of her speech, and by the end of it, there wasn't a dry eye to be found.
"Congratulations to the class of 2024!"
Once the caps went flying, Cassandra and Eli turned to one another, smiled and hugged one another. Even though Eli didn't meet his father, or this side of the family until he was eight years old, no one would have thought that because of how close he actually became to them, especially to his younger sister.
They ended up practically sharing the same friends, considering most of them started dating one another, which got a little annoying at times, but they just wanted them to be happy so they just went with it, and when they are out walking together at the store or mall, or even at the park, they would get asked if they were twins, and even though they weren't, with them being close to six months apart in age and had different moms, they had no problem letting those people think it.
As they were pulling back, Eli said. "Congratulations, sis."
Cassandra nodded with a smile. "You too, bro."
They chuckled, and before they could get into another hug, they hear their older sister. "You better save some of those hugs for me."
They chuckled again and smiled brightly as they met Lindsey before she hugged them tight and whispered her congratulations, so happy for her younger siblings.
They thanked her as they pulled back, then they headed towards the family so they could get hugged by their parents, which was instant.
As they were pulling back their hugs with Kyle, who had his kids in his lap, the rest of the family was coming closer, and Grissom spoke first with a very proud look on his face. "Congratulations, Cassandra and Eli."
They both smiled before Cassandra walked up to her uncle first and gave him a hug, which he gladly accepted. "Thank you Uncle Gil."
"You're very welcome."
Once they pulled back, she shares a hug with her Aunt Sara while Eli gets in a hug with Grissom.
"Thanks Uncle."
"You're welcome too."
After they pulled back, Eli smiled with a nod before hugging the rest of the family while Grissom walked up to Catherine and gave her a comforting hug, which normally in the past she would have to be the one to initiate the hug, but those days are long gone, because while there was still parts of the man she had met all those years ago, there was no denying how much he had changed since he let Sara in his life fully and completely.
Catherine hugged him back while he also congratulated her.
When they pulled back, they nodded with a smile before Grissom held out his hand towards Warrick, but the other man just shook his head with a bright smile and brings him in his arms for a hug, making everybody chuckle and Grissom smile.
Eventually the big family left the school and headed for the Brown residence so they could have a family party before the graduates were going to a party later at one of their friend's house.
Late July, 2024
With Cassandra going to New York, where she'll meet up with a few of her friends next week, for the next phase of her life, she wanted to get acquainted with the city so she was leaving home earlier than she needed to, and because she was leaving they had just finished her going away party, so while she was upstairs getting that last minute packing, Lindsey looked at her husband with worry. "You sure you're going to be ok?"
Cassandra will also have a little company the next few days, her older sister, Lindsey will be going with her, which was the first time since the twins were born she'll be away from them for multiple days/nights in a row.
Kyle gave his wife a smile as he cupped her cheek. "We'll be ok, babe. I can handle this, try and enjoy your time with your sister."
She then nodded with a smile. "You're right. I love you."
He smiled with his blue eyes sparkling. "I love you, too."
As they kissed softly, Cassandra came down the stairs with her bags and took a breath. "Ok, I'm ready."
While she was saying goodbye to the extended family that was still there, Lindsey was saying goodbye to her babies, then once Cassandra said goodbye to her niece, nephew, and brother in-law, the rest of the Brown family walked outside so they could head to the vehicle.
After placing the bags in the back of the vehicle, she turned to her younger brother first and gave him a hug. "I love you, bro."
Rick did a little sigh as he whispered. "I love you too, be safe out there."
As they pulled back, she nodded with a smile. "I will."
He smiled in return before Cassandra stood in front of her older brother, tears in both of their eyes, both knowing after today things won't ever be the same between them again, then Eli cleared his throat and brings her in his arms. "I love you too, and if you need me at anytime, all you have to do is call and I'll take the first flight out."
"I know, I love you, and the same goes for you."
They pull back a second later with watery smiles before Cassandra went to the next person, the woman who taught her so much, the woman she looked up to the most with her sister a very close second, her mother.
She cleared her throat. "Mom, I uh...I..."
But Catherine just cuts her off as she brings her youngest daughter in arms. "I know, sweetie, I know." After a few moments, Catherine took a breath and continued. "And remember you always have a home here."
She was sad to see her youngest daughter leave, but there was no denying how proud she was of her, she was following her dreams, and that's all a mother could ask for.
"I know, I'm going to be ok."
"I know that, but that won't stop me from worrying, so I expect phone calls, you hear me?"
They pull back and Catherine cups her cheek while Cassandra nodded with tears in her eyes. "Yes, ma'am. I love you."
"I love you too."
After wiping the new set of tears off her daughter's cheek, they took a breath and nodded before she went to the last but certainly not least member of the family, her greatest protector, the man she looked up to the most, her father.
The father who could be intimidating/strict at one moment then the next he would be sitting down playing tea party and dress-up with her, and he honestly didn't care who knew because he loved his daughter and would do anything for her, including taking her to ballet classes and going to see a ballet performance with her. She couldn't have asked for a better father than him.
She took a breath. "Daddy."
Warrick smiled with tears in his eyes before he brings her in his arms. "My little princess all grown up, I can't believe it, where has the time gone? I'm so proud of you, sweetheart."
"Thank you, daddy."
After a few more words, telling her to be the brave woman he knew she was, he whispered. "I love you, and call us at anytime, even if it's just to talk about the weather."
She chuckled with a sniffle. "I will, and I love you too, daddy."
They pull back a second later, and after one more kiss with her parents, she got into the vehicle while Lindsey said goodbye to the family.
"See you in a few days, honey."
"Have a safe flight."
She smiled with a nod at her parents before getting into the drivers seat, and once she started the vehicle she pulled out of the driveway while the rest of the family watched until they could no longer see it, and as they were walking to the front door of the house, Catherine said with a smirk, half joking but half serious too. "Rick, when it's your time to pick a college, you're staying close to home, you hear me?"
They all chuckled before Rick spoke with a smile, although a part of him was considering that anyways. "Yes ma'am."
Two weeks later
"Love you, mommy."
"Love you too, Sweetheart. Can you put your brother on the phone now?"
4 year old Catherine Caine, who, along with her twin brother, was staying with the Grissoms while her parents and grandparents were in Vegas, to not only help Eli transition him to his dorm room at UNLV but too also spend time with the other family members they don't get to see much, removed the phone from her ear and looked across the living room. "Micheal, mommy wants to talk to you."
Micheal, who was named after one of Kyle's friends from the army who lost his life in the same attack that almost made him lose his, smiled at his sister and rushed to her side to take the phone.
"Hi, Mommy."
Lindsey smiled with pride hearing that word before speaking. "Hi baby, I just wanted to wish you a good night, and say that I love you."
"I love you too."
After a few more words, Micheal handed the phone to his Aunt Sara. "Mommy wants to talk to you Aunt Sara."
Sara smiled as she took the phone from the little boy. "OK, thank you."
Micheal nodded before he rushed back to the coffee table, where his sister, Katie and Isabella were coloring while Grissom and William were enjoying a chess game.
Sara placed the phone up to her ear as she talked to the younger woman while walking in the kitchen, reassuring her everything is fine and that they'll see them in few days, before ending the call.
After refilling her drink, she headed back into the living room, watching the kids and her husband with their own tasks before she sat back down on the couch and picked up her book for some reading.
When it was time for bed, and while the kids were getting ready, their kids helping the two younger ones out, Sara and Grissom moved their couch, coffee table, love seat and recliner as far against the walls as they could so they could set up two air mattress since they were having a big sleepover in the living room, then once everybody was settled, little Catherine asked. "Uncle Gil, can you do a bedtime story?"
Katie, who was on the floor next to the one the Caine twins were laying on, smiled, always loved her father's bedtime stories, and spoke. "He's the best at them. He can even make up some."
The little girl giggled as she replied. "Yeah, daddy does too. Can you do that too, Uncle Gil?"
Grissom, who was laying down next to his wife on the second air mattress, smiled as he started to speak. "Well, have you ever heard about the one that had a Princess Sara in it?"
Sara snickered while secretly rolling her eyes while Micheal spoke this time. "No, daddy always says it's Princess Lindsey."
They smiled warmly at what the young boy said, then Grissom spoke again after a moments pause. "Well, this one has a Princess Sara in it."
Sara snuggled further in his arms, and after a kiss on the back of her head, Grissom continued. "Once upon a time, there was this Princess named Sara, and she was the most beautiful Princess in the world..."
As he continued on with the story the kids were getting sleepy until they eventually fell asleep, and just before Sara fell asleep too, she whispered. "Goodnight, Knight Grissom. I love you."
He smiled as he kissed her head again and whispered. "And I love you, Princess Sara. Sweet dreams."
AN: More to come soon. Thanks for reading, and please review.
