Summary: Jason's and Isabella's moments on what happened between them, with a special appearance from Andrew to clear up any misunderstandings in regards to their 'date'.
Genre: Romance, Family, Friendship
Rating: T
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Implied Adult Behavior
Main Parings: GSR (For the First and only time in this story, no appearance, but mentioned) Isabella/Jason
Minor Parings: None
Other Characters: Andrew
Chapter 35: How it all started
June 26, 2032
When she reached the parking lot to the apartment complex, she parked the vehicle, turned it off, got out and locked it before rushing towards the door to the building, pressed the button to the apartment she wanted and spoke. "Hey, it's me, I could really use a friend right now."
The door buzzed open a second later and she opened it before walking in, closing the door behind her.
When she got to the third floor, she headed straight to his apartment before knocking on the door, then a second later the door opened.
They have eye contact for several seconds before she broke down crying again, not able to stop herself, and not able to stop himself, Jason took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her, making her feel safe and warm, before whispering comforting words to her while also trying to tell himself everything was going to be ok, because losing Grissom, wouldn't only affect her and her family, but him as well.
After what felt like hours, but only a few minutes, she started to calm down, then she pulled back slightly so she could look into his eyes before whispering shyly, for breaking down like that. "I'm sor..."
But he cuts her off with a reassuring look. "You have nothing to apologize for. He's your father, so of course you're worried, and you can cry on my shoulder all you want."
She sniffled with a nod. "Can I uh, can I stay here?"
He gave her a smile and nod. "For as long as you want or need to."
"Thank you."
He moved to the side to finally let her fully in his apartment as he replied. "You're welcome." Then as he closed the door he continued. "Make yourself at home. Do you want anything to drink? How about eat?"
While she sat down on the couch, she replied. "How about some water? I'm not hungry."
He nodded as he headed towards the kitchen. "I don't blame you there."
After grabbing two water bottles from the fridge, he walked back into the living room before sitting down next to her and handing one of the water bottles to her, and after thanking him, she takes a sip, which he nods before taking his own sip.
As they sat there in silence, she started to sniffle again, so he moved closer to her slowly, just in case he saw or felt any rejection vibes coming from her, and when he didn't, he placed his arm around her shoulders.
A second later, she turns her body so she was laying her head against his shoulder before he whispered. "Your father is a strong man, he's going to pull through this. He has too much to live for."
She sniffled before she asked. "What if he doesn't?"
He took a breath before starting. "Then..." But then he stopped, not letting his thoughts go there, and shook his head. "No, I refuse that outcome. He still has moments with his children he needs to go through, and more years with his wife."
She nodded while closing her eyes. "Thank you for being here for me."
He closed his eyes as he held her tighter, glad he's the one she came to when she needed someone the most, but on the other hand, sadden that she was going through this at all.
"Anytime."
Hours later
For the most part of the time that passed them by, they just sat there, cuddled on the couch while they remained silent, which despite the reason for them being together like this, it was a comfortable silence, with a few moments of small talk here and there, reminiscing about their favorite father/Grissom moments. Then when they could no longer deny their hunger, he made them sandwiches.
As they were finishing up their simple meal, her phone vibrates on the coffee table, indicating she had gotten a message.
They eye the object with both hearts racing, especially after she looked down and saw it was from William, so she knew it had to be an update about their father, then she picked it up, but before she could get the courage to see the message, she shook her head with tears in her eyes. "No, I can't do it, I can't..."
He moves his hand to cover hers as he cleared his throat before speaking softly. "I'll do it, if you want me to."
She turned her head to look at him with a nod. "Yes, please."
He gave her a reassuring smile as he took the phone from her, then after a moments hesitation, he opened the message and read to himself on what it said before looking at her with so much emotion in his eyes, and knowing Jason like she did, he wasn't the one to have that look for nothing, and that got her very nervous/scared so she stood up from the couch and shook her head, trying to control her emotions. "No, he can't be, he just..."
She gets cut off with his words and a smile on his face as he stood up from the couch. "He's going to pull through."
She looked at him wide-eyed. "What!? For real?"
He nodded with his smile getting a little wider as he read the message word for word. "Dad is going to make it. They are keeping him in ICU until the morning, just as a precaution, but the surgeon said he didn't see any reason why he shouldn't make a full recovery."
He was going to continue on with the message, mostly about information on what room he was going to be in, but stopped when he felt her arms wrap around him in a hug, so he smiled again as he wrapped his arms around her while whispering. "See, I told you everything was going to be ok."
She nodded while sniffling. "Yeah, you did."
As they stood there, they let the relief wash over them as he ran his hand up and down her back in comfort.
But as more time passed them by while standing in each other's embrace, they felt the atmosphere around them shift between them, so they pulled back and looked into each other's eyes before being shocked to see so much emotion in each of them as her feelings for him started to come back stronger than ever before, then getting brave, she cupped his cheek, almost making him want to close his eyes from the feeling of her touch on his cheek, but he didn't want to miss a moment, before she leaned towards him and gives him a peck on the lips, testing the waters.
She was going to pull back a second later to get a read from his eyes, but she didn't have to because his lips responded to hers before she could, causing her to gasp in shock that he was actually kissing her back.
As their kissing was becoming more passionate, they moved their feet towards the couch, but before they got there, he slowed them down and pulled back, shaking his head. "Wait."
She opened her eyes as she asked with confusion. "Why? I felt it, don't tell me I'm the only one who felt it."
He took a breath and cupped her cheek before running his thumb up and down her cheek. "You aren't, believe me, you have no idea how much I..."
He trialed off, not wanting to share so much right now, but what he did share, she stated to smile while her heart was racing in another way. "Then why..."
Trying to stop what he really wanted to do, which was to take her in his arms, hold her, keep her safe, and never let her go, but knowing this probably wasn't the right time, he cuts her off. "The timing is off, I don't want you to..."
She cuts him off. "I won't. I want this, I need you, please?"
Even though a part of him was still hesitant, another part of him didn't want to stop either, so he nodded his head, then she took his and walked them towards the couch again, but he stopped and shook his head, making her look at him with curiosity, so he cupped her cheek and whispered with emotion. "You deserve better than a couch, especially for your first time."
Her heart skipped a beat like never before, this one thing alone was a major difference between him and Mitchell, and really seeing how much care he was showing in his eyes for her, made her think why she was even with Mitchell in the first place. He never looked at her like that before, like she was the only one in his world, that she would truly matter afterwards, it was all about what he wanted in that moment.
Now thinking about her latest failed relationship, tears started to come into her eyes at how wrong she was about him, even more than she already did, and thankful she didn't change her mind on sleeping with him, which Jason got worried. "Hey, we don't have..."
She cuts him off with a smile. "No, it's not that. I just don't know what I was thinking."
"About?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter, it's all in the past."
"Ok, but if you ever want talk about it."
She nodded. "I know."
He slid his hand down her arm to take her hand before they started walking towards his bedroom, but before they got in there, she took a hold of his hand and tugged on it, causing him to turn back around, and before he could speak, she kissed him before smiling against his lips then pulling back. "Just making sure this was real."
His eyes sparkled like never before as he cupped her cheek again. "Oh this is real, it's so real."
They kissed some more while finally moving on into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.
A few more hours later
Jason woke to movement going around in his room, and he opened his eyes to see Isabella sitting in a chair tying her shoes, and she shyly smiled when she noticed he was awake, watching her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, but I should get to the hospital to see my dad."
It wasn't something she was looking forward to doing, because of the whole not liking the hospital thing, but she needed to see him with her own eyes to make sure he was really going to be ok.
He nodded as she stood up, but before she walked out of the room, he gets up from the bed, showing his athletic build while he was in nothing but boxers, and spoke softly. "Hold on, can we talk for a minute?" She turned to look at him, her heart racing at the sight of him, then she looked down smiling, thinking of what just happened between them, causing him to chuckle a little at her reaction before he cleared his throat and spoke softly again. "I guess that answers that question."
She looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "What question?"
"That you are ok, that what just happened between us was..."
She cuts him off as she cupped his cheek. "Jason, know that no matter what other people might think, you did nothing wrong. I was right there with you, we were both in the moment together, I knew what I wanted, and I knew what I was doing." She then shyly smiled. "Well, sort of."
He cups her cheek and ran his thumb up and down it, knowing what she was talking about. "You were amazing."
She blushed a little bet redder as she shook her head. "I don't know about..."
He cuts her off with a chuckle as he brings her closer to him. "Listen, how about we talk more about this once your father is at home and there is one less thing you have to worry about." When he saw worry in her eyes that he was pushing her away now, he shook his head and continued with sincerity. "I just don't want to put more on your plate right now or pressure you in anyway. I want us to have a clear head before we move forward together."
Her eyes started to brighten up. "Together?"
He nodded with a smile as he ran his thumb up and down her cheek. "Yes, together. Don't think you're getting rid of me now, things just got interesting."
She chuckled for a moment before she sighed with nod. "Yeah, I guess you're right." They wrap their arms around one another, and she softly whispered. "Thank you, that despite the timing, for making it everything I ever wanted it to be."
He closed his eyes and whispered in return. "And thank you, that out of all the men out there, who I know would have jumped at the chance to be with you, it was me you wanted to share your first time with."
The 'L' word was already on the tip of their tongues, both knowing that feeling was more real than ever before.
But they didn't want to put even more pressure out there right now, so they held back the words, and moved from each other's arms so she could turn and walk out, and while she did turn and take a few steps towards the bedroom door, she turned back around, walked up to him again and kissed him, which at the end of it, they smiled against one another's lips before she pulls back, and he asked. "Wanted to see if it was still real?"
She smirked. "That, and because I can now."
He smiled with his eyes sparkling, causing her heart to skip a beat, knowing she was the one that put that look in his eyes. "Feels good, doesn't it?"
She chuckled as she headed back towards the bedroom door. "You have no idea."
He walked further to his bedroom doorway and watched her gather the rest of her things before she headed towards the front door, and once she did, she turned around to look at him. "I'll give you call."
"And I'll be waiting for it, for you, no matter how long."
There was total honesty in his eyes and tone when he said that, and she believed him, proving all along her heart was right on picking this man to fall in love with.
They share one more smile before she turned and walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind her, while he sighed in content with a smile still on his face, yeah maybe the timing could have been better, but he was finally with the woman he loved. Well, maybe not officially, but least he was closer to that than he was a year ago, heck even a day ago, and has something to really look forward to.
Two weeks later
It had been two weeks since that fateful day, and one week since Grissom was released from the hospital and settled at home, which by now, Isabella was feeling things were finally getting back to normal and her mind and heart was starting to focus on something else, or should she say someone else, and while it wasn't anything new, because that feeling has been there before, it was new in a way because the feelings she had for him for so long where finally being reciprocated.
One morning, she woke up with a smile on her face, and moved to sit up in bed, but just before her feet hit her carpeted floor, her stomach started to churn in a very unsettling way, and a second later she was rushing towards the bathroom and headed right for the toilet.
When she was finally done, she sits down on the tiled floor, taking deep breathes while closing her eyes, thinking what made her so sick, then after going through the possible outcomes, something hit her like a ton of bricks, and she opened her eyes wide in surprise before she threw up again, not only because of the symptoms on what she thinks might be happening, but also because of the shock of it all.
Once she felt she was done in the bathroom, she headed for her room, changed into sweats, grabbed some money and went downstairs before spoke out-loud since she knew her parents were in the kitchen. "Dad, can I borrow your vehicle?"
"Sure, honey. Drive safely."
"I will."
She grabbed the keys to her father's vehicle and walked out of the house to get into it before driving to a least popular store, even if it meant the drive was a little out of the way so she wouldn't be recognized.
When she got there and in the building, she found the aisle she was looking for, went down it and stopped in front of the last item she ever thought she would get, at least not for years.
She took a breath, and with her heart racing, she grabbed a pregnancy test box and headed for the check-out counter.
After she made it back to the vehicle, she thought of where she should go, then after looking at her watch, noticing by the time she drove there, her brother and sister in-law would be out of the house for a few hours with Buddy, so she started the vehicle and headed for her brother's place.
When she got there, she got out, walked to the front door, used the key they gave to her for emergencies before heading towards the guest bathroom.
30 minutes later, after finding out the results of the test, she was sitting on sand at the beach, looking out in the horizon with tears in her eyes as she had placed one hand over her stomach while holding her phone with her other one.
She hovered her thumb over Jason's name in her contact list, knowing she needed to tell him something that would change his life forever, but she couldn't, so she shook her head and placed her phone down on the sand, moved her knees up so they were close to her chest, wrapped her free arm around them while her other hand remained on her stomach as she spoke with emotion. "I don't have all the answers right now, probably a first for me (She chuckled softly as she wiped some tears away), but I promise you little one that I'll eventually figure it out. I'm going to try and give you the best life I can give you. And know this, above everything, whether we are in this alone or not, it will always be me and you from this moment on, nothing, will be more important in my life than you."
She may have just found out news that was going to change the direction of her life sooner than what she would have liked, but she already loved the little life that was growing inside of her, and she will do anything to protect it.
September 10, 2032
After Isabella knocked on the door to Andrew's apartment, he opened it and they smiled at one another, then after walking in she saw a candle in the middle of the table with the plates of food already in place. They looked at one another after he had closed the door, and she spoke after cleaning her throat. "Nice set up."
He nodded before they headed towards the table, then after helping her to her seat, just like the gentleman he's always been, he sits down across from her before they started eating dinner with a little small talk.
When the plates were empty, they stood up and took them to the sink, and as they stood there looking at one another, they started to lean towards one another, but stopped before they got far, knowing by now, before their movie time, that this 'date' didn't feel right.
"Andrew?"
"Yeah?"
"You really don't want this, at least not with me, you want my sister."
He walked past her and sat down in his chair with a nod. "I do, I really do." He then started chucking. "Why did we even think this 'date' was a good idea?"
She started laughing as she sat down in the chair next to him. "I don't know."
When they calmed down after laughing at how ridiculous this was, he took a breath and continued softly. "I'm sorry I asked you to do this, I realize now how wrong I was."
She shook her head with a smile. "It's ok, I'm sure when you explain it to her, she'll understand."
He nodded again, and as she stood up to get some water out of the fridge, he spoke again. "And speaking of not wanting this, you wished I was someone else in that moment too, didn't you? Like the father of your unborn child?"
Isabella closed her eyes with a nod. "Yeah. I love him Andrew, I really do. It wasn't just some random night for me, it meant everything to me."
He stood up and walked up behind her before placing his hands on her shoulders. "Then you need to tell him, Izzie. It's time he knew he's going to be a father."
She nodded while sniffling. "I know. I'm just scared of what he'll say or do. I was so sure on how he'll react, but honestly, I don't really know."
She turned in her best friend's arms and he hugged her while he ran his hand up and down his back. "Just know that no matter what happens between you and him, you are not alone in this, you'll always have me."
She nodded with a smile. "I know, thank you for being my best friend."
"And thank you for being mine." They sighed before he asked. "You still up for a movie?"
"Sure."
He nodded before they broke apart from one another, and after getting the water from the fridge, he met Isabella on the couch, sitting down next to her, he then turned on the movie before they looked at one another and started chuckling while shaking their heads again.
September 16, 2032
With her parents over at William and Bella's place, and the party canceled, Isabella was in the living room, wringing her hands together in nervousness while she waited for Jason to show up.
While it was her task to call everybody to tell them the party had been cancelled, there was one person she neglected to call because she needed him to come.
She took a sharp breath when she heard the knock on the front door, then she stood up and walked towards it. She paused for a second when she got there before opening it, and when they saw one another, their hearts raced before he asked a little confused. "Did I get my times wrong, because I feel I'm either very early or really late?"
She shook her head with a slight smile as she moved to the side to let him in the house, and after closing the front door, she turned to him while he turned towards her and she replied softly. "The party has been canceled."
He looked at her with wide-eyes, knowing there had to be a good reason for that. "Woah, why? What's wrong?"
She shook her head again. "It's not my place to say..."
He cuts her off as he stepped closer to her. "Izzie, please, this is me."
"I know that, but really I'm not the one that should tell you."
Still torn on not knowing, but respecting her decision, he nodded, but he did have to know one thing. "But, everybody's ok, right?"
Even though she couldn't be 100% truthful on this, she did say something that was true. "Let's put it this way, no one is in the hospital."
He gave her a small smile. "Well, least that's a good thing." She just nodded as she stepped past him, needing the space, then he turned around and watched her walk towards the couch and asked. "So, why didn't I get the call? Why did you want to see me?" He then finished softly. "When the past three months I could barely get you on the phone."
She looked at him with tears. "I'm so sorry about that."
He sighed. "I mean, did you end up regretting that night? Did I do something wr..."
She cuts him while wiping her tears away. "No! Nothing like that."
He walked up to her, almost pleading. "Then tell me, how did we go from this is real and we are moving forward together to feeling like it was only a dream."
She sniffled as she looked down at her hands. "What we shared meant everything to me, it wasn't just some random moment."
He sits down next to her and whispered. "And it wasn't for me either." He lifted her chin up before cupping her cheek and continuing. "There is something I wanted to tell you for awhile now, what should have been said that night, which is, that what I've been feeling for you has been growing for a little over a year now."
She looked shocked as she asked. "Really?"
He nodded with a smile. "Really."
"How come you never told me?"
He sighed. "The honest answer is I've been scared, scared that I had finally lost you, that whatever feelings you did have for me in the past did in fact move..."
She cuts him off. "They never have, not completely at least, no matter how hard I tried."
He felt good hearing that, but then was confused again. "Then why have you been avoiding me like the plague?"
As more tears were coming down her cheeks, Jason cupped her cheek to wipe her tears away with worry in his eyes while she tried to tell him. "I was also afraid, afraid on what you might do or say when I told you."
"Tell me what, you're really scaring me here, Izzie. What is it?"
She turned her head to the side, leaned forward to grab a file from the end table, and after opening it up, she pulled out the latest sonogram picture and handed it to him. He looked down at the picture before gasping when he realized what it was. He removed his hand from her cheek instantly to grab the photo, and after looking at it in wonder for what felt like hours, he looked up from the picture to look in her eyes with unexpected tears in his. "A baby? Our baby?"
She nodded, more tears overflowing, so she was sure she looked a sight, as she took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "Our baby girl." His breath hitched with a mixture of a sob before she continued. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you..."
She gets cut off when he placed his lips on hers, which they both held nothing back once she responded, then after they pulled back, he vowed while they were catching their breaths. "From this moment on, I want to be involved, I want to be there for every appointment I can, I want to be there every step of the way, and not just for our little girl, but for you as well."
She finally started to smile as she asked. "Really?"
"Yes, we are in this together now."
She took a breath as she placed her forehead against his. "Good, because I don't want to do this alone anymore. Not that I have been alone, but you know..."
He gasped again as he pulled his forehead from hers. "Oh my god, your parents, your brother. I'm actually surprised I'm still alive right now."
She shyly smiled. "Well, for one, my parents don't know who the father of my child is, and two, William doesn't even know I'm pregnant yet."
Before she could continue, he smirked. "Then that explains why I still am."
She chuckled while shaking her head, then once she calmed down, she needed him to be sure, so that's what she asked. "And you're sure about..."
He cuts her off with emotion as he looked down at the picture in his hand. "100%" He then looked at her with the most beautiful sight Isabella had ever seen on him, tears, the good kind, in his eyes as he let one slide down his cheek. "I'm going to be the best father I can be, I promise you."
She then cupped his cheek and wiped his tear away while whispering. "I know you will, she is lucky to have you."
"And she is lucky to have you too."
He leaned forward and they shared a soft kiss on the lips before he kissed her forehead, then they moved on the couch so his back was touching the cushions. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders a second later as she eased her head so it was laying against his shoulder before their focus was on the picture he still had in his hand, both falling more in love with their unborn child as time passed them by.
AN: A few more chapters to go. Thanks for reading, and please review.
