Summary: William and Bella have something to share with the families.

Genre: Romance, Family, Friendship, Hurt/Comfort
Rating: Low T
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Slight suggestive
Main Parings: GSR
Minor Parings: William/Bella
Other Characters: Multiple

Chapter 36: A tradition continues

June 12, 2033

(William and Bella Residence)

As Bella placed the last bowl on the table that was out on the deck, William walked up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist, slipping his hand under her sweater to place it on her three month pregnant stomach, causing her to close her eyes at his touch while he spoke softly. "It looks nice, and so do you for that matter."

She smiled as she laid the back of her head against his shoulder. "Normally sweet talk will get you anywhere, but not at this moment, we have guests in about..." Before she could finish, they hear a knock on the door before Buddy started barking, making her fix her statement with a smirk. "Right about now."

He chuckled before he kissed her temple. "While I don't mind on where your mind went, I wasn't looking to get 'anything', just making a truthful comment."

She turned to look in his eyes while her eyes were sparkling. "Good to know. Now get the door, please."

He nodded. "Yes ma'am."

After sharing a sweet peck with his wife, he turned and headed for the door, calming Buddy down as he did, then once he opened it, he saw his parents, sisters and Jason, who was carrying little Sarah's car seat.

He smiled at his family while welcoming them inside the house, then just as he was about to close the door, he noticed Rick and Elizabeth were coming closer, so he left the door opened for them.

Once everybody was settled in the house, Rick asked. "So, what's with the small gathering, man?"

When Bella and William felt it was the right time to tell them the news, they both agreed they wanted a small gathering first, then tell the rest at a later date.

Bella walked up to her husband, where they share a smile before William spoke after clearing his throat. "As you all know, it had been a tough year for all of us, and while not all of it was bad." They looked at Isabella, who was now holding her little girl with a beaming smile and nod. "There was definitely parts of it I wish I could delete out." They nodded in understanding, then he wrapped his arm around his wife as he finished. "And, while we'll never forget what we lost, we are now looking forward to what is coming, and so the reason for this gathering is that we wanted to tell you that..."

He trails off as Bella finishes with tears in her eyes. "Come sometime in December we are expecting our little miracle."

They all looked wide-eyed before Sara stood up first with tears in her eyes. "Really? You're pregnant?"

They both nodded with tears in their eyes as William spoke softly. "Yes, mom, we are having a baby."

Sara walked up to her son and gave him a hug while whispering her love to him before she did the same with Bella while Grissom hugged his son to congratulate him.

After the last member gave them a hug, the small group headed outside to eat their meal, all happy for the couple, especially since they have gotten married they were hit with such terrible luck, so it was nice that something was going their way this time.

Once dinner was over, and about another hour after that, Sara, Grissom and Katie left to go home, where they had a little ice cream to celebrate before the younger Grissom went upstairs to her room.

After walking out of the kitchen, Grissom went to sit down on the couch while Sara grabbed her shoulder bag and placed it on the couch before going to one of their bookshelves and pulling out the newest photo album that they had costumed made before walking towards the couch and sat down next to her husband.

She smiled at the cover that had William & Bella's name on it with a picture from their wedding day in the middle, between their names. Once she opened it, she glanced at the photos that were in it until she reached an empty page, then after opening her shoulder bag, she pulled out the newest picture, a sonogram picture of the newest Grissom that will bless this family in six months time, looked at it with tears in her eyes as placed it inside.

Grissom smiled with tears in eyes when he saw the sonogram picture. "Another little one."

Sara nodded as she wiped a few tears off her cheek. "They've already been through so much, and I'll admit I was a little scared for them for awhile."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and brings her closer to him, and after kissing her head, he whispered. "They are just proving that they are a strong couple, and willing to get through whatever hardships they have, to be together."

She nodded. "Yeah. I couldn't be prouder of them."

He kissed her head one more time as he whispered. "Me neither."

August 17, 2033

Bella was sitting at the deck table, surrounded by her husband and in-laws, enjoying a family dinner for Grissom's birthday when she felt something that made her wince, so she leaned back in her chair, causing everybody else to stop speaking when William looked over at his wife with worry, a little more than usual considering what happened last time.

"Honey?"

She then started to smile as she took his hand and placed it on her stomach, he smiled with tears in his eyes as he felt the first kicks of his child. "Kicking?"

Bella nodded with another smile and tears in her eyes while everybody looked around the table with smiles and tears in their eyes as well, happy for the couple's new milestone.

After a few moments, with his hand still on her stomach, William couldn't help but speak without thinking. "Look at you go little William, I'm so proud of you."

They hear a few gasps before Grissom's soft voice was heard. "What?"

William looked at his wife with an apology in his eyes, but she smiled and shook her head. "We were already going to tell them after dinner." He started to smile while Bella looked at her father in-law. "Yes dad, your first grandson will be named William Arthur Grissom III."

Grissom shook his head, trying to control his emotions. "You guys didn't have..."

Bella cuts him off as she placed her hand on his. "I couldn't imagine naming our first son by any other. While I never had the privilege of meeting the first William, everything I've heard about him sounds pretty amazing, and I mean he had to to be with a son like you." She watched him shyly smile before she looks at her husband with tears in her eyes. "And I don't have to tell you anything about the second William that you didn't already know."

Grissom shook his head with a smile. "No you don't, and if you're sure about this, I would honored, and I know my father would have been too."

Bella looked at her father in law again with a beaming smile. "Thank you."

(After dinner)

While Sara was finishing up the dishes, Grissom was standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room watching the family as they were interacting with one another, especially to little Sarah and William III, which Grissom's heart skipped a beat just thinking of his unborn grandson's name.

His observing of the family was interrupted when he felt Sara's arms wrap around him from behind and she placed her chin on his shoulder before looking at their family as well with a smile and tears in her eyes, sometimes it still felt unreal to her that she was here, with the only man she's ever truly loved, living this life, having these moments.

A second later, she felt his hand on hers before running his thumb up and down it while they had eye contact, both thinking the same thing as they moved their heads so they could get a good angle and kiss softly, then he kissed her temple and they pulled back before joining the rest of the family in the living room.

December 11, 2033

After the latest push, Bella shook her head with tears in her eyes. "I can't do it anymore, William. I can't."

William took her hand and whispered in her ear with emotion. "Yes you can, honey, you are a very strong woman, you've been through so much in your life, more than you should have. Please, don't give up now, not when we are so close to having the life we've always wanted."

Looking into her husband's loving, yet determined look in his eyes, she nodded with a smile as she squeezed his hand. "Ok."

He nodded with a smile in return. "OK." He then kissed her forehead, pulled back and waited for her hand to squeeze his as she was bringing their son into this world.

After multiple pushes, she did one more strong one before the room was filled with the baby's cries, and while William was kissing his wife's forehead, he whispered with tears going down his face from how proud he was of her.

A few moments later, once the baby was free from his mommy and cleaned, Kelly handed baby William to his father and said with emotion. "Welcome to fatherhood, William."

William sniffled as held his son for the first time, then he leaned down and kissed his forehead, whispering. "Hi, sweet baby boy, I'm your father."

He pulls back a second later, and looks at his wife as he moved closer to her. "Look honey, isn't he beautiful?"

She nodded with tears in her eyes. "Yes he's beaut..."

Before she could finish, her eyes started to close and the machines started beeping, he looked frantic as his son started to cry again, then before he knew it, he was slowly being pushed back while Kelly and the nurses were trying to see what was gong on. He saw the frantic movements of them while trying to comfort his son, then he heard the type of sound you don't want to hear from the machine, and Kelly's soft voice. "I'm sorry William, but she didn't make it."

He shook his head, tears coming down both his and his son's cheeks. "No, you're wrong, she can't be... She can't. we were suppose to be doing this together."

He moved his eyes towards the bed...

William woke up with a start, his heart racing as his breathing was out of control while he looked over at his sleeping wife, and after placing his hand on her 9 month pregnant stomach, he sighed while shaking his head as he waited for the rest of his body to calm down. "Thank god it was only a dream."

He kept his hand on her stomach for several more moments before he leaned down and kissed it then moved up to kiss her forehead and whispered. "I love you both, so much."

After he pulled back, he carefully got out of bed and headed towards the kitchen, but not before making a stop at the back door to let Buddy out.

He was sitting down at the table, drinking hot chocolate, when he heard his wife's soft voice, knowing the only reason why he would be up at this hour, drinking hot chocolate. "Was it about your father?"

Since that fateful day, and while it wasn't a nightly occurrence, but like his mother predicated, William started to have nightmares about his father being shot, and a lot of the times the outcome wasn't good, causing him to wake up in the middle of the night. But, each time he did, his wife was right there comforting him.

He shook his head immediately, and looked down at his half-empty coffee mug. "No."

She frowned as she walked up to the table. "What happened to you when you were a boy?" He shook his head again while she sat down next to him, then she placed her hand on his arm. "William, then what happened? You can tell me."

He shook his head one more time, still looking down, but she could tell by his tone, he was still thinking about his nightmare. "No, I can't, it's..."

She cuts him off softly. "Please, let me help you, don't keep this bottled up inside, you know I don't like it when I see you are hurting." He sniffled a few times before lifting his head up to look into her eyes, and to see so much emotion in them and on his face, made her gasp in shock, never seeing so much anguish before, which was saying a lot considering who was in his other nightmares, then she moved her hand to cup his cheek. "Oh sweetheart, it must have been a horrible one, probably your worst one yet with the look you're giving me."

He nodded with a few more sniffles. "It was, but it didn't start out that way."

He took a breath before telling her his dream, and by the end she was in tears, then after they held one another for comfort, she whispered while running her hand up and down his back. "I promise you, I'm going to be ok." She felt him take a breath, and before he spoke again, she smirked. "You think I'm going to let you enjoy this new adventure all to yourself?"

He shook his head with a sob/chuckle. "No."

She smirked again as they pulled back. "You're damn right, this is our life together, this is our adventure and no one, and I mean no one, is going to take that away from us, not if I have anything to say about it." She cupped his cheek again and continued while wiping his tears away. "We've been through so much already, and I refuse to give up now. It's me, you and this little guy from now on."

He started to smile as he moved his hand to cover her other hand that was on her stomach, then said with his blue eyes sparkling. "Well, at least for a few years."

Knowing their desire to have more then one child, she nodded with a smile. "Yeah, and I'm looking forward to it."

He used his free hand to cup her cheek and wiped the remaining tears away while he whispered. "Me too. I love you, Bella Grissom."

And as she wiped the remaining tears off his cheek, she whispered. "And I love you, William Grissom."

They leaned toward one another and kissed softly before they placed their foreheads together, then she asked a moment later. "You ok to go back to sleep now?"

They pull back as he nodded. "I can at least try."

She nodded in return while they stood up from their seats, then he walked towards the sink with his coffee mug so he could wash it out, and as he placed it down in the sink, he hears his wife's voice. "Uh, babe, I think we'll have to scrap the whole sleeping thing for right now."

(Two hours later)

When Sara and Grissom got 'the' call, they wrote Katie a note, who was still asleep, telling her what was going on before they headed towards the hospital, and they were there for about two hours before they see Bella's Uncle and Aunt walking their way, who were already on route to be here, not only because they knew it was only a matter of days before their great nephew would be born, but because today happened to be Bella's birthday and they wanted to be there for both special occasions.

The families greeted one another with smiles and handshakes, all four of them excited about the turn of events and couldn't wait to meet the newest member who will join their families.

They did a little small talk, just catching up on each other's lives, then after a few moments pause, Sara asked, which to be honest the question had been going around in her head for years, she just now felt a little more comfortable about asking after knowing them better. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but how come you two never had kids of your own?"

A little surprised on the question, Shauna started. "Oh." Then while Jeffery took her hand for support, she continued with a small smile. "Well, I guess the the simple answer would be because I can't have any children."

Both Sara and Grissom frowned while Sara spoke. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Shauna waved it off with a slightly brighter smile as she squeezed her husband's hand. "I'll admit it was hard to accept at first, but then I met this guy (She lightly bumped her shoulder against her husband's) and his niece , and I knew right then and there I had everything I ever wanted." She took a breath before she continued. "And with us traveling so much, we knew adoption would be kind of difficult."

Before she could continue, Jeffery gave her a smile as he picked up her hand to kiss it. "But now that we've settled down in Paris, who knows?"

Shauna just nodded, not wanting to get her hopes up too much. But, regardless if an adopted child ever comes into their lives or not, she still feels she has everything she ever wanted. Well, now more, with her great nephew coming into this world.

They both nodded in understanding before Sara spoke with sincerity. "Well, if you ever need any references, don't hesitate to ask, we will be happy to help anyway that we can."

Grissom took his wife's hand with another nod in agreement, while the other couple was very appreciative of the offer and they both thanked them with some more smiles.

(Hours later)

As more time passed by, more family members started showing up, which includes the Grissom girls, then the moment finally came, they see William walking their way with a bright smile and tears in his eyes, so they all stood up, then when he stopped in front of them, he cleared his throat before proudly announcing William's arrival and that while Bella is exhausted, which is to be expected, she's doing just fine and couldn't stop smiling while she was holding their son in her arms.

After emotionally congratulating him, it was decided that his parents and sisters go first to meet the newest member, but before they started following William, Sara and Grissom looked at Jeffery and Shauna. "You guys sure you don't want to go first?"

They nodded. "Yeah, go ahead."

With appreciative smiles, the Grissom family followed their son/brother towards Bella's room, where she was sitting up with a beaming smile on her face.

"Hey guys, come meet the newest Grissom."

They walked further into the room while William walked up to his wife, and while showing each other so much emotion in their eyes, she transferred her son into her husband's arms, causing his heart to skip a beat, much like it did when he first held him in the delivery room.

He looked down at his son with so much care and love that his family, particularly his parents, couldn't hold back the tears in their eyes, it was like they were watching their son holding his whole world in his hands, and they knew that feeling all to well.

William looked at his parents again, sniffled and said. "Mom, dad, your grandson, William Arthur Grissom III."

Sara smiled at her husband with a nod, and he smiled and nodded in return before looking at his son and holding out his arms, William then leaned down and kissed his little forehead before whispering."Ok, son, you're going to meet some very important people, and the first one up is your grandpa."

Once little William was in Grissom's arms, his heart skipped a beat, much like it did when he held his first granddaughter, and it's a feeling he wouldn't mind having many times more.

When his first moment with his grandchild ended, Grissom passed him off to Sara, then he looked at his son, who was watching his own son very intently before looking at his father with tears still in them. "I'm a father."

Grissom smiled as he brings his son in his arms. "Yes you are, and I couldn't happier or prouder of you. He is a lucky little boy."

"Thank you, dad."

"No problem, son. Love you."

"Love you too."

Once they pulled back, William walked up to his mom and sisters while Grissom moved towards the bed, seeing a very happy looking mother, and Grissom leans down and brings her in his arms for a hug. "Congratulations to you too, you've made our son, our whole family happy, and we couldn't ask for a better daughter-in law...heck, forget the in-law part, a better daughter."

Feeling honored to be called his daughter, Bella sniffled as she replied while sill in her 'father's' arms. "Thank you, dad, your son has made me very happy as well."

"I'm glad." He kissed her temple before pulling back while finishing. "Your Aunt and Uncle are here, so they'll be in shortly."

She nodded while Sara walked up to bed so she could do her personal congratulations, then the three of them looked at the girls and William as they were completely awestruck with the newest member, it was for sure another good day for the Grissom family.

AN: A few more to come. Thanks for reading, and please review.