AN: Thanks to those who are still supporting this, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 8: Part 2

When they arrived at the destination, a new Italian restaurant that's been around no longer than six months, which Grissom looked at Sara as he helped her out of the limo so he could see what she had to say when she saw where they were. But she just looked at him and made a motion to 'lock' her mouth and throw away the key, causing him to chuckle and smile, then after the driver told them he'll park the vehicle and wait for them, Sara and Grissom headed for the door to the restaurant, hand in hand.

However, 10 minutes later, when they finally made it to the maître'd, they found out the reservation that he made never made it into their books, and to say Grissom was not happy was an understatement.

"I know I made it, a month ago."

The young 20's, black haired, brown eyed, man, looked over his book for the third time and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing it here. You could always wait, but it could be up to an hour and a half to two hours before..."

Sara spoke while squeezing her boyfriend's hand. "Griss, why don't we just go and order something else."

He was going to say something to the other man, but the pleading look in her eyes stopped him with a sigh. "Ok."

As they walked towards the door, they heard another 'sorry', and when they made it outside, he sighed again and shook his head. "Sara, I'm..."

She cuts him off with a reassuring smile. "Griss, it's ok." She moved to cup his cheek. "Honestly, I rather get take-out and eat at my favorite spot, anyways."

He smiled with his eyes sparkling. "The beach."

"Exactly, so what do you say?"

"Chinese, then?"

"Perfect."

He kissed her forehead before taking her hand again so they could walk back to the limo.

(Close to an Hour later)

When they arrived at their true destination, once they got their food, they said goodnight/goodbye to the driver and headed for the beach.

After they were about halfway, Grissom took his suit jacket off and placed it on the sand so she could have a place to sit, causing her to smile with appreciation, then just as they were settled down and started to pull the food out of the sack, it started to rain, causing Grissom to look up at the sky as he shouted. "Oh come on!"

Sara chuckled as she put the food back into the sack, then after grabbing his jacket and her low healed shoes, they ran towards the house that was behind them, which use to be his aunt's before she moved into an apartment, so the beach house could be used as a 'vacation' home for any of the family members who wanted to use it.

They rushed towards the covered back deck, he walked towards the back door and to the right of it, close to the deck railing, there was a flower pot, so he lifted it up and took the key that was under it, placed the pot back down and headed for the door so he could open it, then after she was in the house, she placed the food and his jacket on the kitchen counter and headed for one of the bedrooms so she could change into dryer clothes, since the family was known to leave extra clothes here just in case of an emergency, like this one for instance.

Once they were both now in sweatpants and t-shirts, they were sitting down at the coffee table finally eating their food, but it had been quiet from the moment they settled down, which wasn't new, since as much as they loved talking to each other, especially when they were bouncing ideas off of one another or talking about their homework, they enjoyed the quiet times as well, finding out they didn't need to always talk to fill the silence.

But this silence felt different to her, so she smiled as she placed her hand on his wrist. "Hey, I know things didn't go as planned as you wanted it tonight, but I think this is perfect, we are sharing it together and that's all that matters to me."

He sets her fork down and places his hand top of hers with a smile after a sigh. "You're right, at the end of the day it shouldn't matter where we are, just as long as we are sharing the moment together."

She believed him, but she could sense something else was going on in that beautiful head of his. "Ok, I'm glad we got that settled, but something else is bothering you, so what is?" When he got that shy look on his face as he was removing his hand from her, she knew it was something big to him, so she took his hand again before he could fully release his hold. "You can tell me, whatever it is."

He nodded in agreement, knowing she was one of the easiest person to talk to in his life, even though sometimes on certain subjects he gets tongue tied, like the one that was going through his head.

She waited patiently, knowing she had to give him time to feel comfortable/get his thoughts in order, then he finally spoke after clearing his throat. "When you thought Steph was asking 'THAT' question earlier, you didn't even hesitate on dismissing it, like it was a bad thing. Is it really such a bad thing to even think of being with me like that?"

She gasped lightly as she shook her head, knowing what he was asking, then she smiled as she moved her hand to cup his cheek. "Oh babe (Which he raised an eyebrow at the new nickname) I'm sorry if I gave you that impression, because not for a single second do I think that. I do want you in that way, I hope you never doubt that." This time he shyly smiles for another reason, causing her to smile wider as she ran her thumb up and down his cheek before a sigh. "I'm just not there yet, I'm not..."

He cuts her off reassuringly as he placed his other hand on top of hers that was still on his cheek. "It's ok. I didn't meant to put you on the spot like that, or make you feel pressured in any way, I was just 'checking' in, seeing if we were on the same page here."

She then cleared her throat and asked softly. "And are we?"

Grissom gets a bright smile on his face as he nodded while removing his hand from her hand that was still on her cheek and cupped hers. "Definitely."

Her eyes lit up and as smiled again. "You mean that?"

He nodded with no hesitation. "I do, this relationship, to me, isn't about that one moment, it's about going through multiple moments, building a solid foundation." He took a moment to wipe a few tears off her cheek as he finished. "I want it all with you, Sara, and I'll wait until you're ready for the next step in our relationship because I know you'll, we'll, be worth the wait."

She chuckled with a sniffle. "Well, no pressure there." He was about to speak, but she continued before he could. "And I agree with you 100%, you, us, mean everything to me, and I am happy with what we're slowly building together."

While the 'L' word had been implied with their eyes, actions, and even in the way they talked to one another at times, it hasn't actually been said yet, and even though they were confident it was reciprocated, especially after this moment, they were still scared to say it, so instead of once again not saying it, they decided to use their actions to express how they felt about each other.

They moved toward one another and kissed, and while they could feel the passion behind it, there was also a tenderness to it as well.

After several minutes, thoroughly enjoying the moment, they pulled back slowly, then after opening their eyes, she took a deep breath before whispering. "Do you believe me now how much I do want you."

He nodded, still trying to catch his breath, before smiling as he ran a thumb up and down her cheek again. "No doubt in my mind."

She pecks him on the lips before pulling back with a smirk. "Good."

They smiled at one another before they go back to eating, then he asked after taking a few bites of his food. "However, I do have a question."

She looked over at him after swallowing her bite of food. "Yeah?"

He looked at her and smirked. "Did you really just call me 'babe'?"

She chuckled with a nod, before asking. "Why, did you not like it?"

"It just threw me off guard a little, you said it so naturally, like you've been saying it for years."

She shrugged. "It just felt right to say." He nodded in understanding, but then get a sad look on his face, which Sara had a feeling on what it was, so she squeezed his hand. "The right endearment will come to you, and I won't mind the wait." She moved her hand up to his cheek again as she finished with love in her eyes. "Besides, I like how you same my name, it gives me tingles down my body every time I hear it from you."

As they moved towards one another again, he whispered. "Sara." Before their lips touched for another round of kissing.

Once they pulled back, he moved to kiss her forehead before they go back to their meal with a mixture of comfortable silence and small talk, just enjoying the moment together.

When their meal was gone, and the dishes that they used were taken care of, they ended up cuddling on the couch, her head on his shoulder while one of his arms were around her shoulders and the other one was intertwined with hers while resting on his chest.

After several minutes of silence, she asked softly. "Are you surprised how easy this transition had been from being friends?"

While they admitted that the scared feeling of them being more than friends lasted longer than they wanted, the transition of it did feel effortless.

Grissom took a moment while he looked down at their hands as she started to play with his fingers. "Maybe a little, but honestly, nothing really has changed that much on how we interacted as friends."

Sara nodded in agreement, but then she smirked. "That is true, but I think we are in agreement there is one major difference that we are doing now that we've never done as friends, which is one of my favorite activities if you ask me."

Even though he knew what she was talking about, he smirked with a raised eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

She chuckled as she moved up so she could look down at him, seeing the sparkle in his eyes, only making her heart race before whispering. "This."

She moved closer to his lips and kissed him, which started as a peck then it grew into a string of one of the most passionate kisses they ever experienced, even moving on the couch so she was on the bottom while he was on top.

When they finally pulled apart longer than the few seconds they had done previous, they both whispered. "Wow" with smiles on their faces, then after he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and nose, causing her to smile a little wider, he moved so he had his head laying on her shoulder while she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his head as they let their hearts slow down.

About ten minutes later, Grissom took a breath as he looked at the clock on the wall. "As much I would like to stay like this all night..."

She cuts him off with a nod. "I know, time to get back to the real world."

But just before they moved, they heard keys being slipped into the locked front door before it opened and Maria came into view, who stopped immediately when she saw the two of them, particularly on what they were wearing, knowing that's not the attire she saw Sara in when she left the house earlier that evening.

They both moved from one another faster than they had ever moved from one another before, mostly out of shock from seeing Maria standing there, then when they really noticed how she was looking at them, having a strong feeling on what she was thinking while seeing them dressed like this, they got wide-eyed before Grissom spoke. "Cousin Maria, this isn't what it looks like."

Sara wasted no time backing him up. "He's telling the truth, there is a good explanation for all of this."

Maria finally walked fully into the house and shut the door behind her before she nodded. "Ok, I'm listening."

After they each took turns explaining on what lead them here and why the change of attire, Maria, who believed their explanation, nodded again. "Alright, I believe you two." She then sighed. "But you better change back into your clothes so we can leave."

They nodded before they headed to the laundry room to get their clothes out of the dryer before heading to separate bedrooms to change back into their original clothes.

During the drive back to the house, the air around them felt a little tense, and after Maria pulled in the driveway to her house, the three of them got out of the vehicle, and Grissom spoke towards his cousin. "You have to know I would never put Sara's future in jeopardy, and I would never hurt her."

Maria gave him a small smile with a nod. "I know Gilbert, now I think it's probably best if you head home."

He nodded, his curfew was coming very close anyways, then he looked at Sara with a smile. "Have a good night."

"You too, Griss."

After one more nod, he turned and headed towards his mom's house next door, and as he stepped out of earshot, Sara looked at Maria, who had started walking towards the front door, and spoke while walking behind her. "I know you said you believe us about tonight, but I have a weird vibe coming from you right now."

Maria sighed as she stopped at the door then she turned to look at the teenager. "I'm just questioning myself on whether I should be more strict with you two."

Sara gasped with wide-eyes. "But nothing happened, we didn't do anything."

"Not tonight, but..."

Sara cuts her off, being completely honest. "Yeah, ok, one night it could be a different story."

If there was one thing she loved about Sara, it was her honesty, she was probably the most honest teenager she's ever known.

Maria was about to speak, but Sara continued. "However, it's definitely not happening any time soon. We talked about this. In fact, just tonight we both agreed to wait until it feels right."

Maria sighed. "Sara..."

Sara once again cuts her off. "I understand your worried, but I promise we'll do everything in our power to not let anything happen."

Maria smiled as she cupped Sara's cheek. "I know sweetheart, and I believe what you are saying, but feelings, especially teenage feelings, can get out of control in a hurry, and no matter how much you plan on it not happening, it does, and you know those consequences? They can get real, very quickly."

Sara wasn't backing down on defending her relationship with Grissom. "Then we'll get through it together, because I know for a fact that if a baby is the consequence of our actions, Grissom will not turn his back on me."

No hesitation, Maria nodded. "No he won't, he's a stand up young man who loves you very much. I see it more each day you two are around one another."

Sara shyly smiled as she looked down. "We haven't use those words yet."

"Trust me, it's there, and know that I am your biggest cheerleader when it comes to you two being a couple, I just want you two be careful when that time comes."

"And we will, there is only so much we can do. It isn't like we can control everything, no matter how much we want to. But we also can't stop living our lives to the fullest either, which will include intimacy."

Maria took a moment before nodding with a sigh. "Ok, nothing has to change, I'm still putting my faith in you two."

Sara nodded with a smile. "Thank you, and we'll do everything we can to keep your trust in us."

Maria nodded one more time with a smile of her own. "I know you will."

After Sara gave the other woman a hug, she walked towards the door and walked in the house with Maria following a few steps behind.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review.

*And if I don't post again this week, have a happy and safe New Year!